RICHARD LEROY TENPENNY

 

CLASS OF 1954

JULY 3, 1936 - OCTOBER 21, 2006

Richard Leroy Tenpenny, age 70, of Iola, Kansas, formerly of Osawatomie, died Saturday, October 21, 2006 at the St. Frances Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.

Richard was born July 3, 1936 at Clay Center, Kansas. He was the younger of two sons born to Patrick Raymond and Margaret Bertha (Whitney) Tenpenny. He graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1954.

He entered the military with the United States Navy right after high school and was medically discharged. He then went to Baker University for one year.

He worked at the Osawatomie State Hospital as a medical technician from October 10, 1955 until April 19, 1967. He was the head of the laboratory department.

He was married to Iris Jean Ogden in Osawatomie on June 28, 1959. They made their home in Osawatomie and became the parents of three children.

Richard had an interest in genealogy. He also enjoyed sports, especially youth sports. He and Iris were on their way Saturday to a college football game to watch their grandson play against Garden City for Coffeyville Junior College when he suffered a heart attack.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Iris of the home; two sons Todd Tenpenny of Chanute and Shawn Tenpenny of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; one daughter Alicia Vanatta of Rossville, Kansas; 7 grandchildren; one brother Patrick Tenpenny of Osawatomie; a half brother Robert Kester of Perry, Kansas; a brother-in-law Gary Ogden of Newnan, Georgia; a sister-in-law Kristine Kirk of Overland Park, Kansas; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, October 27, 2006 at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. He will lie in state after 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening. Honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren Jacob, Richard, Dwight, Dwayne, Kevin, Justis, and Alaina. Cremation following the funeral service with burial of ashes taking place on Sunday, October 29, 2006 at Alpine Cemetery, Melvern, Kansas at 2 p.m. with military honors. Memorials are to the Osawatomie Presbyterian Church or Osawatomie Public Library.

Return to 1950-1959 List