Robert Edwin Henneberg

Robert Edwin Henneberg, dear husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away gently and peacefully on March 29, 2011, with family beside him. A long time resident of the Druid Hills area, he was living in the retirement complex of Wesley Woods Towers, near Emory. Born in 1925, during a lunar eclipse, to William and Helene Henneberg, of Astoria, Long Island, New York, Robert joined his brother Billy and his sister Gerry. He grew up during the Great Depression, much of his childhood near his cousins, aunts and uncles. He described many wonderful adventures growing up in New York with his cousin, Rich, riding bicycles to the ocean to go crabbing, building elaborate train tracks and miniature towns in Rich's basement, and playing stickball in the neighborhood. He was close to his German born grandparents and aunts and uncles who took him eel fishing on Long Island Sound and to a family farm in New Jersey some summers. He admired and loved his siblings, Billy and Gerry, who took him to ball games and Saturday matinee movies and looked out for their "kid brother." Dad loved it and remained very close to his siblings all of their lives. When Dad enlisted in the U.S. Army when he turned 18, he became known as Bob. He served his country as a guard for a prisoner of war camp in Louisiana and then was shipped overseas to serve in India. He was talented in engineering and mechanics. The Army made good use of those talents in India, having him repair medical equipment and other important machinery in the Calcutta area. He was Honorably Discharged in 1946. While a prisoner of war guard in Louisiana, Bob met the one true love of his life, Kathryn "Barne" Ferguson. It was love at first sight for him. They corresponded during the war. When Bob returned to New York after the war, he went to Louisiana to court Barne. Although Barne was engaged to another at the time, Bob must have swept her offher feet, for they were married within a month. Bob was embraced by the large Ferguson family. He joined the church that his father-in-law pastored, helped build a home for his parents-in-law, and led many of the singings that the church held. While newly married, Bob worked and went to Louisiana Tech on the GI bill. He received a degree in Mathematics and taught for a time before working forthe Bell Systems - a career that lasted over 40 years. He loved his work with Western Electric/Southern Bell/AT&T. His career took him and his young family to New Jersey, North Carolina, New Jersey, and finally to Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to his work at Southern Bell/AT&T in Atlanta, he volunteered countless hours to the Pioneers, a group of employee volunteers who would spend their lunch hours repairing audio equipment for the blind. Bob and Barne and their four children moved to the Druid Hills area in 1964. They enjoyed their neighborhood and made many lifelong friends - especially dear to Bob were Candler and Patsy Guy and their children. Candler and Bob would have weekend chats over the fence between their backyards and enjoy working on boats and other projects on occasion. Bob and his family joined Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and spent many years enjoying the services and activities there. Bob served on the Vestry, sang in the choir, was a Lay Reader, and was a member of the Brotherhood of Saint Andrews. He was a faithful and joyous Christian and made church a regular part of his life and that of his family. In 2007, after Barne's death, Bob moved to Wesley Woods Towers retirement home. He was very active there and made many wonderful friends. He wrote a monthly paper for a while, joined the choir, attended the church services, helped with the fundraisers, played bridge and games, and enjoyed the numerous programs provided. His friends there fondly remember his singing and whistling in the hallways and on the elevator. Bob felt blessed to be there and shared that joy with those he knew. Bob is preceded in death by his dear wife, Barne. We all know that he is happily reunited with her in Heaven! He leaves behind his four children, daughterin-law, and son-in-law: Daniel (Jackie), Jane (John), Mark, and Anne. He also leaves behind his eleven grandchildren, grandson-in-law, granddaughter-in-Iaw and future granddaughter-in-law: Molly (Chris), Robert (Kimberly), William, Amanda, John, Bill, Ed, Jeffrey, Lauren, Austin (Tamma), and Dylan. He also leaves behind many loved nieces and nephews and friends. A Memorial Service at Wesley Woods Towers will be held on April 27, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. A funeral service will be set at a later date at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, in Decatur, Georgia, when family members can be present. Bob's ashes will be placed in the Chapel Garden there. Memorial donations may be made to Camp Mikell 237 Camp Mikell Court Toccoa, Georgia 30577; the Pioneers AT&T; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 515 East Ponce de Leon Avenue Decatur, Georgia 30030; or Crosslink International 427 North Maple Avenue Falls Church, Virginia 22046.

Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033