Bruce Covell Hensley

Bruce Hensley April 23, 1940 – October 15, 2025 Bruce was born on a ranch in Scott’s Valley, California to Celia Frances Hensley nee’ Covell and Ruthvird Bruce Hensley, both of whom had moved from Nebraska a few years prior. During WWII, his father worked at Mare Island as an electrician in submarines. The family added Bruce’s baby sister, Betty Marie, in March of 1944 and then moved to government wartime housing in Vallejo on May1st, 1944. Having grown up on farms in Nebraska, Bruce’s parents bought a small farm near Sonoma and moved in time for Christmas of 1948 to be celebrated in the first home they owned. His mother was a well known school teacher, starting at Adobe School in Petaluma Valley and finishing up at schools in Sonoma. Bruce graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1958, worked at Four Corners service station while attending Napa Community College and in 1960 started working for the State of California at Sonoma State Hospital, where he met the love of his life, Margaret “Peggy” Pauly, a nurse from Minnesota. They were engaged in early 1961 and married in Glen Ellen at the Catholic Church on July 1, 1961. Their son Michael was born on April 4, 1962 and Marcus on November 25, 1964 in Sonoma. Then Bruce obtained employment with State Department of Corrections, starting at Susanville Correctional Center and shortly moving to CCI Tehachapi and in 1974, his final transfer to the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. Bruce and Peg became very involved in their sons’ activities. Bruce was a founder of Central Coast BMX around 1978 in Santa Margarita where he built a race track for the kids and had his family and his sons’ future wives, Carol Haller and Lisa Kashima volunteering at the races. Bruce loved his family and his grandchildren Nicole (Ben) Wahl, Kayla Hensley, Steven (Taryn) Hensley and his great granddaughters Kira and Ellie Wahl were the light of his life. He was also an active member of Saint Patrick’s Martha Ministry, Italian Catholic Federation, Outreach and a member of Elks Lodge 2504 for 43 years. Friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass on November 14 at St. Patrick Church, Arroyo Grande, at 11 am. Private Committal. BBQ reception to follow in the parish hall.