Henry Allen Hankal Jr.

Henry was the only child to his Army family of Henry and Mary Hankal, also from Greeneville. The family moved from Greeneville to New Jersey while Big Henry completed re-repatriating of U.S. POWs in Korea. This became a pattern for the next 25 years: Dad going on ahead where the army required him to go and Mother Mary keeping home and health together.

In 1959, Allen’s spotty baseball talents found him in Weisbaden, Germany playing in the European Little League World Series for the US Army France with Elvis and young Priscilla just up the road.

In 1965, Big Henry retired from the Army and Mary retired from management at Kodak in Huntsville, Alabama and returned to Greeneville, their home. Allen attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he studied architecture in 1970, during the course of which professional links brought the young architect in fathoms deep with icons of the time such as: Lou Kahn, Buckminster Fuller, and Paolo Soleri. Allen was gifted and sponsored for a course of Euro-study in the summer of 1969. This was a signature event in his life which always brought smiles during the re-telling of the story.

Allen’s portfolio included five buildings on historic Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, including BB Kings.

In 1993, Allen met red haired, green eyed Betty Keeling of Knoxville, Tennessee. Betty was a reference librarian for the city. They traveled to France and Wales several times. They married later than most and she passed away sooner than most with pancreatic cancer. Allen returned to Greeneville to assist his mother during her recovery for a horrific car accident in 2012.

He is survived by his mother: Mary Belle Bowman Hankal; aunts: Imogene Luttrell, Reba Bird; uncles: Earnest Vern Bowman, J. D. House; cousins: Frances Bird, Mary Ann Bird, Alonzo Jacob Bird Jr. “Jake”, Teresa Castleman, Barbara John, Judy House, Jay House, Elizabeth House, and Kelly Williams Laird (a special thanks for all of her help and Suzanne Burns for all of her love and support); and special friends: Rita and Regina.

In lieu of flowers, please support the local animal rescue and animal rights agency, Red Hill and Mt. Olive Church.

The family will receive friends from 2pm-4pm Sunday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.

The funeral service will follow at 4pm in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Rocky Johnson and Rev. George Kirkland officiating.

Interment will follow in Mt. Olive Red Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jake Bird, Jay House, Randy Bowman, Danny Laird, Alfie Gourley, and Jimmy Jones.