Harvey Louis Wensel, aged 84, of Durham, North Carolina passed away on December 28, 2025. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him – his family, his neighbors, his students, his friends, all the people who came in contact with him regularly.
Harvey was born in Columbus, Ohio, on February 15, 1941. The son of Charles Lester Wensel and Helen Lorraine Dykes, Harvey grew up in Nelson Township and attended Nelson Elementary School and James A. Garfield High School in Garrettsville, Ohio. He was active in Methodist Youth Fellowship, Boy Scouts, and 4-H, and enjoyed training and showing horses. He also loved sports, hunting, and fishing. He graduated from Kent State University with a B.S. degree in Education. He taught briefly in Middlefield and Windham before being commissioned (ROTC) into the U.S. Air Force where he trained as a pilot at Vance Air Base in Oklahoma. He flew T37s, T38s, B52s, O2s and A37s and also flew 359 missions in Viet Nam as a Captain and was awarded the Air Force Medal. He traveled throughout the U.S. and the far East during his 10 years with the Air Force.
After leaving the military, Harvey taught Biology for three years at Streetsboro High School. Then In 1973 he relocated to Durham and taught science. He received a Master’s Degree in Administration/Supervision from UNC Chapel Hill and retired from Orange County Schools in Hillsborough, NC, after serving as a Transportation Coordinator and Assistant Principal. But teaching was Harvey’s true passion. Whenever he was asked what he taught, he said “I taught students.” He had an impact on many students’ lives and was frequently contacted by them after retiring.
Harvey maintained his membership in the Nelson United Methodist Church which he credited with giving him guidance throughout his life.
Harvey was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Pauline Maness Wensel of Durham and Catsburg, and his grandson Cameron Bass. Harvey is survived by his sister-in-law, Irene Maness of Durham, his sister-in-law Suzanne Wensel, nieces Barbara Wensel and Valerie Wensel of Garrettsville, and Karen (Alvin) Branham of Ravenna, and his nephew David Wensel of Garrettsville. He is also survived by his step-daughter Cindy Bass, grandsons David Allen Bass and Joshua Bass, granddaughter Lynne A (Efrain) Cortes-Bass, and great-grandson Joshua Cameron Bass. He is also survived by many great nieces and nephews.
Harvey requested to be buried in Ohio near his parents and a celebration of life will be held at the Nelson Community House on Saturday, January 24 from 1-3. Memorial donations may be made to Nelson United Methodist Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
