Morley Denbo, age 88, of Decatur, Ala., died on Feb. 6, 2016, surrounded by his beloved family.
Morley was born on May 15, 1927, in Pulaski, Tennessee to Isaac and Jennette Rifkin Denbo. After serving in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1947, he married Barbara Palkes, of blessed memory, in 1947, and together they raised three children. After Barbara’s passing in 1980, Morley married Ann Shirley in 1985.
Morley was a leading entrepreneur in the regional business community. In 1950, he moved from Bristol, Virginia, where he began his scrap metal recycling career, to Decatur when he bought his uncle’s scrap metal recycling business, then known as B. Denbo Company. Morley grew the business into a major commercial empire. In continuous operation now for 109 years, the business became Denbo Iron and Metal Company, Inc., and then Tennessee Valley Recycling, LLC, and has employed hundreds in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee. Renowned for his business acumen and integrity, he served the scrap metal industry through its national trade associations, now known as the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (“ISRI”), for many years. Appropriately labeled “Scrap’s Southern Storyteller,” Scrap magazine profiled Morley as an industry leader. In 2007, ISRI presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the recycling industry.
Morley was also a pillar of the Decatur community, and worked to improve Decatur’s regional and national impact. He served on the local board of directors of BBVA Compass Bank (formerly Central Bank). He was a senior member of Decatur Kiwanis Club (1971).
Morley was a life-long advocate for veterans’ affairs, and was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Life Member, Post #4190), Elks, American Legion (Post #15) and Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Morley was a member of Temple B’nai Sholom in Huntsville, Ala., where he served as B’al Tekkiah (shofar blower) for more than 50 years.
A unique soul with an enormous heart, family and friends will remember Morley’s generosity, gregarious personality, widely-repeated stories and anecdotes, and his love of life.
Morley is preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara Palkes Denbo, and his brother Charles Denbo, both of blessed memory. He is survived by his wife, Ann Shirley Denbo; his children, Leslie Denbo, Melissa (Norman) Davis and Joel (Sara) Denbo; his grandchildren, Jennifer Brandt, Zachary (Jocelyn) Gershen, Ariel (Jason) Zion, Rachel (Marc) Labovitz and Jessica (Eric) Smith; his eight great-grandchildren; and his sister, Esther “Dede” (Ted) Lipman.
Visitation will be held today, Feb. 8, 2016 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home in Decatur, Alabama, and will be immediately followed by a graveside service at 2 p.m. at the Decatur City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Foster Bailey, Jon Emens, Zachary Gershen, Marc Labovitz, John Mays, Solomon Miller, Bobby Smith, Eric Smith and Jason Zion.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Temple B’nai Sholom General Fund, 103 Lincoln Street, S.E., Huntsville, Ala. 35801.
May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him and a comfort to the bereaved.
