Charles Andrew Jensen, 90, of Falls Church, Va. died May 1, 2007, at home.
Mr. Jensen was born October 29, 1916 in the Cherrydale Section of Arlington County to Andrew Jensen of Bornholm, Denmark and Victoria Theresa Grim of White Post, Virginia. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Marie Jensen Ball of Arlington.
He graduated from Washington and Lee High School in 1935 and worked for Fred A. Gosnell and Son of Arlington in the purchasing, development and sales of residential and commercial properties. Mr. Jensen served during World War II in the United States Navy in Communications Intelligence, resigning inn 1948 with the rank of Lieutenant. From 1949-1952 he operated his own business as a developer and builder of homes. It was during this time that he built his own home in Falls Church, the finish work in which would make any carpenter proud.
In 1952 he began a career with the Federal Housing Administration as a Residential Field Inspector of both single family and multi-family structures. Later he became a Construction Examiner and Cost Analyst, where he analyzed construction cost data for all types of structures related to all FHA programs processed by the District of Columbia Insuring Office, rising to Deputy Chief. Beginning in 1965, he served as a General Underwriting Advisor in the Central Office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, working directly for the Assistant Commissioner for Technical and Credit Standards performing cost, appraisal and computer related duties. He retired from HUD in 1976.
Mr. Jensen had a wide knowledge in many areas derived from an intense curiosity in how things work and how to fix them. He was very generous in sharing this extensive knowledge with anyone interested. He was a meticulous craftsman and self-taught jewelry maker who, in his retirement, created many beautiful pieces in sterling silver set with semi-precious stones. He enjoyed a great sense of humor and his many friends never tired of hearing stories of his mischievous adventures. Above all was his love for his family and home life.
He is survived and greatly missed by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Arlene Haslam Jensen, his daughters Judy Jensen of Falls Church, Carol Jensen Turnage and her husband Russell of Lanexa, Virginia, and Sandra Jensen Polk and her husband Ted of Hanover, Virginia. He will also be missed and well-remembered by many nieces and nephews through the families of Frank and Marie Ball and Francis and Marion Raven.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, May 3 at Murphy’s Funeral Home in Falls Church. A private graveside service will be held at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington.
