Temple Willett Tenny, son of Ralph Whitcomb (1894-1975) and Lina Mae (Willett) (1895-1971) Tenny, was born 10 September 1922 Michigan. Temple's father, Ralph, was Special Course Institute Director at Michigan State College from 1926-1960. He was not only professor of special courses but oversaw conferences and directed of Farmer's Week at MSC.
Temple was a 1941 graduate of Okemos High School. He was a talented trumpet player and was active in the OHS band, local and church musicals. Temple enlisted in the US Army at Kalamazoo, Michigan 15 December 1942. He was described as 67 inches tall and weighing 186 pounds. He was listed as leaving for Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan in a Lansing State Journal article with the headline, "Board No. 1 Sends Draftees Monday, Group of 21 Leaving for Fort Custer; All Accepted For Service." Pfc. Tenny saw active duty in Europe during World War II and was honorably discharged February 1946, Fort Sheridan, Illinois from military service.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 14 January 1943
Three Okemos young men who have recently entered Fort Custer have been assigned to new camps. Stuart Moore is at Camp Crowder, Mo., in the signal corps. Temple Tenny is at Camp McCoy, Wis., in limited service. Edwin Smith left Friday for the navy camp in Virginia. Joe Griffith and Gerald Moore will leave soon for marine training schools.
Temple, after his military service, attended and graduated from Michigan State College in 1949. He was employed and had a long career with the State of Michigan Civil Service Department. Temple married twice; Wanda Guest and Claudia Towers. He died 31 December 1999 Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan and was interred, as were his parents, Glendale Cemetery, Okemos, Ingham County.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Sunday 2 January 2000
TENNY, TEMPLE W.
LANSING
Born September 10, 1922 in Charlotte; died December 31, 1999 at the age of 77. Mr. Tenny was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army in the Central European Theatre. He retired in 1985 from the State of Michigan Department of Civil Service, after 30 years of faithful service. Mr. Tenny was a member of Maranatha Baptist Church of Lansing. His love of music started with the Okemos High School Band, continued with the Michigan State University Band and the United States Army/Air Force Band, and most recently with the Meridian Community Band. Mr. Tenny was preceded in death by 1 sister, Ruth George. Surviving are his wife of 16 years, Claudia C. (Towers); 2 daughters, Jody Haddad and July K. (Eric) Kessler both of Lansing; 3 step-daughters, Shelley J. (Michael) Jacobs of Potterville, Sheila J. (Eugene) and Sharon J. Talsma both of Lansing; 2 step-sons, Steven M. Talsma of Ionia and Stuart M. Talsma of Grand Ledge; 2 grandchildren, Heather (James) Westrin and Geer "Smitty" Smith; 1 step-grandchild, Tucker Rose Tatroe; 1 great-grandson, Dylan Westrin; and 2 sisters, Sybil Torok of Bradenton, FL, and Lina Mae (Stuart) Peterson of Grand Rapids. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 4, 11 a.m. at Maranatha Baptist Church, 2300 N. Waverly Rd., Lansing with the Rev. Glenn M. Ray, Jr., Pastor officiating.