On November 8th, Robert “Dickie” Henchey was ushered into “The Big Man’s” awaiting arms after a courageous battle with cancer. He born on April 12th, 1951 He was 61 years old.
Dickie was an avid waterman and hunter. He grew up in Ocean Park in Virginia Beach. Dickie loved nature and wildlife. His cheerful yet optimistic outlook on life was guided by his big heart. Always lending a hand when he could. Though Dickie enjoyed his privacy he was eager to visit or stay with his childhood friends and high school buddies.
Dickie knew everything there was to know about deer hunting. His deer hunting preparations were second to none. Carefully deodorizing his hunting clothes and gear prior to opening day of hunting seasons. Cleaning his guns and arranging his shot shells. His Dead Eye duck hunting skills were known by all of us that hunted with him.
When he was younger he spent 80% of his time in the marshes behind Ocean Park hunting, trapping or shooting ducks. Dickie enjoyed the marsh and woods as much as he enjoyed life itself. He was a commercial waterman out of Lynnhaven Inlet in Virginia Beach and spent many years gill netting catching and selling fish, oysters and clams.
He is sorely missed by many including his best friends and caretakers, Lennie & Debi Core from the Eastern Shore where he spent a lot of his time along with Doug & Belinda Fondren of Chicks Beach where he passed away. He is survived by his cousin Butch Baum and his wife Mandy of Virginia Beach & His aunt Ellen whom he loved dearly. He spent his last 6 months before passing away Hunting & Fishing.
Special thanks to Jerry Phelps for taking Dickie Hunting on many occasions.
Dickie was baptized in Lynnhaven Inlet, Ocean Park some 20 years ago at his request by Lennie Core and had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
A memorial gathering of his friends and love ones will be held behind Ocean Park to be announced at a later date.
Please contact Butch Baum to be notified of the gathering at (757) 422-5977
Please share condolences via the Online Guestbook.
Send Flowers
Dickie was a dear friend that loved to hunt and fish. Even though he never had much, he often valued little things that we often took for granted. I’ll never forget the day I took him shopping for a present for my Dad. He was more excited about giving than getting. May God’s mercy and Grace be with him and his maybe he’s sitting in the woods of heaven right now talking to Christ while looking for that big buck!
Miss you Brother.. Errrr
Dickie had so many wonderful friends.. He and I considered ourselves brothers. We ment playing in the sandbox at Baylake Pines Private school at the age of 5. That was 57 years ago. “Harry” is in a better place now. I will always Love you Brother.. I just know he has his own new fishing rod and deer stand in Heaven.
Sit out under the sky.
Because some of the best times of my life were deer, turkey and duck hunting with Dickie, as well as fishing, crabbing, oystering, clamming and trapping. Just walking to Willie’s to set a minnow trap or taking the dogs to Crab Creek for a swim made a good day better.
To remember him, just go outside. Watch what is going on–the birds, crows, squirrels, rabbits–whatever moves. Check the moon phases, the tides, the weather patterns, what is blooming or ripening in the garden, especially vegetables. He knew about it all. He loved the woods, the river and the Bay, and was more a part of the Earth and more connected to it than anyone I knew, except maybe my grandpa and aunt, who ran hunt clubs down the beach. I have that gene, too, and rather be with nature than inside.
Our Dickie never met a stranger; he pretty much never let anyone that needed help pass by unaided, and he made so strong an impression no one ever forgot him, and he will be missed.
He will be missed every day for the rest of our lives.
He will be missed till the last person that knew him dies.
And wherever men go, following his footsteps, communing with nature in any way, his spirit will be there. He will be there.
Good hunting!
I was very sad to here the news of Dickie ,passing away. He is in a better place and pain free. I hope the hunting is great and the fish are biting.
Gone but never forgotten… love and miss you…
Here is the poem read at the memotial.
THE DRIFTER
I’m just an old has-been decoy
No ribbons I have won.
My sides and head are full of shot
From many a blazing gun.
My home has been the river
Just drifting with the tide.
No roof have I had for a shelter,
No one place where I could abide.
I’ve rocked to winter’s wild fury,
I’ve scorched in the heat of the sun.
I’ve drifted and drifted and drifted,
For tides never cease to run.
I was picked up by some fool collector,
Who put me up here on a shelf.
But my place is out on the river
Where I can drift all by myself.
I want to go back to the shoreline
Where flying clouds hang thick and low.
And get the soft touch of the raindrops,
And the velvety touch of the snow.
by Steve Ward