“How ya doing, Governor” was his familiar refrain. Although Hank was the consummate salesman, he valued the person much more than the sale: his customers knew he’d tell it like it was; equally knowledgeable and affable. He’d known tough times when he was growing up; his work ethic forged when he was just a boy. Hank represented power transmission services for a dozen places before he wound up buying into his own big firm, JC Bennington and eventually working side by side with his wife at Warner Technical Sales, the perfect two-man operation. Actually, one man, one woman; but they made a great team. Hank wasn’t one for T.V. but he devoured the Wall Street Journal cover to cover, clipping out articles and ads for everyone along the way. A potential position moved him from Olney to Mickleton; Hank would start a company, Deekimlis (an amalgam of the names of his growing family), cleaning office buildings for extra money to furnish their new house. The Warner home would be a joyous place: cats, kids, dogs and laughter all equally welcomed. Of course, Hank wasn’t the handiest guy there ever was: paint was more likely to be spilled on the ground as find its way to the wall; he once fixed a toilet by splitting it in two. His mishaps led to some gentle ribbing over the years. And maybe some not so gentle ribbing; but Hank was always a sport. He never showed up empty handed; boxes of doughnuts, bismarks and cannolis. Hank was a minor celebrity at most area bakeries. Later years found him finding his real niche: he was a Pop Pop for the ages. If he was easygoing as a parent, he took it up a notch as a granddad. He’d let the girls paint him up with makeup, loaded them up with finds from the dollar store and bled Virginia Tech Orange.

One of his jobs found him making the sale of a lifetime: getting a date with the stunning Dolores Morris. He’d spend 54 years of marriage treating her like gold. Along the way they were blessed with 3 children: Kim (Bill) Dupper, Lisa Grasso and Mike (Dana); 4 grandchildren, his dog, Chloe and several granddogs. He is survived by his sister, Maryann Cooper.

Come celebrate 76 great years Friday 9-11 a.m. at Daley Life Celebration Studio and tell a great story about Hank at a service at 11. In lieu of flowers donations to Camden County Animal Shelter Development Department, P.O. Box 475, 125 County House Road, Blackwood NJ 08012 (ccasnj.org) will be appreciated.