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WEINSHENKER -- Bertram (Bert) A. Weinshenker passed away on January 24, 2005 after a short illness. He was born on September 11, 1920 in Ironton, OH. He graduated from high school in 1938, attended Purdue University in civil engineering, when he joined the Army-Air Corps as a cadet aviator. He graduated from fighter school in 1941 just before the declaration of war in December. He received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant and was assigned to duty in Panama. He flew P40's for several years in the Canal Zone until 1945 when he separated after attaining the rank of Major from the service and moved to Albuquerque. He had visited here in 1936 when his Uncle Sam Minces was establishing a business, and after separating from the military, went to work for him as a bookkeeper. During that time, several WWII veterans decided to stay flying and established the New Mexico Air National Guard. Bert was the first Operations Officer in the "Enchilada Air Force." In 1957 he decided to go into sales and signed a contract with Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co. In 1961, he left CM and was an independent for several years before he established a District Office for Phoenix Mutual Life. He was very successful and in 1975, was inducted into the Phoenix Hall of Fame. He retired at age 67, sold his house, and moved into an apartment before finally moving into Montebello on Academy. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Katherine Yankie Weinshenker, and his second wife, Joan Parsons Weinshenker. His survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and John Keaton of Albuquerque, their son Michael of Pueblo, CO, his son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Karen Weinshenker, of Albuquerque, their children, Jill and Jeff Dalton and their son, Spencer of Austin, TX and Nina and Eric Parrott of San Francisco, and his sister, Elaine Feldman, also of Albuquerque. Bert requested that no service be held for him and the family respects his wishes. He would be very unhappy at the length of this obituary. He would have preferred, "Bert died, Lincoln Town Car for sale." His close friends will get the symbolism of the above statement. He also wanted us to thank all the friends and staff at Montebello who made his last years so enjoyable.
        Published on: Tue January 25, 2005