Sheridan Bruce Ensley

1934 - 2019

Sheridan Bruce Ensley obituary, 1934-2019, Fairfax, DC

BORN

1934

DIED

2019

FUNERAL HOME

Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, L.L.C.

9902 Braddock Road

Fairfax, Virginia

Sheridan Ensley Obituary

Ensley, Sheridan Bruce Age 85 Sheridan Bruce Ensley, 85, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away on August 10, 2019 after a short courageous battle with cancer. Bruce was born on February 26, 1934 in Great Falls, Montana, the son of Myron Edmund and Ruth Erickson Ensley. An active member of Great Falls High School Class of 1952, "Banjo" graduated and headed east to attend Yale University on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship. He played collegiate basketball and upon graduation in 1956 was commissioned as an ensign serving active duty on the USS John New (DDE-818). Bruce was honorably discharged in 1959 and, later that same year, married Joan Halloran, the daughter of Lieutenant Commander Paul J. Halloran and Catherine Lenihan Halloran. They were married 58 years and had six children and twelve grandchildren. Bruce is survived by his four sons and his son-in-law: Timothy, of Melbourne, FL, Patrick (Anna), of Virginia Beach VA, Bruce (Louise), of Richmond VA, Daniel (Dana), of Lexington KY, and Greg Hills (Heather) of Rowley, MA. He is also survived by his sister Myrel Lundsten of Burnsville, MN. He was preceded in death by his wife Joan, son, Shaun Eliot Ensley, daughter, Gretchen Deidre Ensley Hills, and daughter-in-law, Patti Brooks Ensley. Bruce was a lifelong learner, crossword puzzle enthusiast, outstanding fly fisherman, and steadfast patriot. He enjoyed many memorable Montana fishing trips with his children, grandchildren, and close friends. After working as an operations analyst for the US Navy for 39 years and serving 13 different Secretaries of the Navy, he retired to enjoy traveling with his wife and family friends. Bruce enjoyed engaging conversations and often shared his deep subject knowledge while working as a docent at the Smithsonian Institute's National Air and Space Museum. The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to our neighbors, the care providers at INOVA Hospital's Acute Respiratory Care Unit, the Heatherwood staff, and the VITAS hospice team during our father's final days. The family has scheduled visitations at the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home on Thursday August 29th from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM. A noon funeral Mass has been planned for Friday August 30th, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial to follow. Please sign the Guestbook at www.legacy.com/washingtontimes

Published by Washington Times from Aug. 22 to Aug. 23, 2019.
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6 Entries

My sincere sympathy to the family. God has given us a life span of 70 - 80 years, if we are especially strong Psalms 90:10.
May the family and friends celebrate a life well lived and loved by many.

October 14, 2019

May God grant my friend Bruce Ensley eternal peace.

Terry Carraway

August 30, 2019

John, Dot, and Kay Stefanoff Stefanoff

August 28, 2019

For Uncle Bruce, or UB as he was known to me in our thousands of email exchanges, my heart tells me his spirit now knows the joy of being reunited with sister Joanie to whom he was married for 58 years. Together they not only raised a beautiful family of Sean,Patrick Timmy, Bruce, Danny. and Gretchen , and shared in their children's families as well in the Ensley Homestead in Burke, Virginia in which they resided since 1971 families. Bruce graduated from Yale in 1956 and we enjoyed chiding each other on-the rivalry of our two schools, my Dartmouth, for our entire lives. We both spent several years on active duty with the Navy and both of us were very respectful of our father and father-in -law, Rear Admiral Paul Halloran, at whose home Bruce and Joanie
were married in 1958. Bruce always was the purveyor of fun stories about fishing and hunting in Montana; it was like we were there with him. See you at the family reunion UB and heartfelt love for a life so well lived. ES

David Halloran

August 26, 2019

Joanne Halloran

August 26, 2019

Bruce will be sadly missed by all the Halloran family. He has brought many laughs and stories. I will always remember him doing crossword puzzles. What a brilliant man. Now he has joined his beloved wife, Joan, and his son, Sean and daughter Gretchen. We miss you UB.
See you in the Great Beyond. Love, David and Joanne

David and Joanne Halloran

August 26, 2019

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Memorial Events
for Sheridan Ensley

Aug

29

Visitation

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, L.L.C.

9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22032

Aug

29

Visitation

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, L.L.C.

9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22032

Aug

30

Funeral Mass

12:00 p.m.

Holy Spirit Catholic Church

DC

Funeral services provided by:

Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, L.L.C.

9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22032

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