Richard Allen "Pete" Tennant, 88, of Benton died at 10:36 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at Franklin Hospital.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory, Benton. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Father Joseph Trapp and Pastor Don Bullard officiating. Burial will be in the Knob Prairie Cemetery, Akin, with military rites performed by the Benton American Legion and V.F.W.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Mr. Tennant was born on Jan. 8, 1924, in Reedy, W.Va., the son of Navarro Allen Tennant and Mary Mirtie (Moore) Tennant. He married the former Margaret S. Blazek on July 5, 1947, and she survives.
Pete was a retired coal miner of 43 years, having worked as a maintenance supervisor for Freeman United Coal Company and later Old Ben Coal Company prior to his retirement in 1987. He was also a member of the U.M.W.A.
He served his country as a U.S. Navy veteran during World War II and later served in the U.S. Naval Reserves during the Korean War.
Pete enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, feeding the birds, spending time with his grandchildren and his dog, "Darling Jill."
Surviving relatives include his wife, Margaret S. Tennant, Benton; five children, Richard (Pamela) Tennant, Crestview, Fla., Deborah Tennant Clark, Benton, Terrance (Wesla) Tennant, Akin, Daniel (Kristine) Tennant, Batavia, and Douglas Tennant, Benton; six grandchildren, Janae Tennant, Keri Tennant and Rebekah Tennant, all of Benton, Leigh Ann Tennant, O'Fallon, Elizabeth Clark, Urbana, and Christopher (Chelsie) Clark, Sesser; one great-grandson, Cole Clark, Sesser; one sister, Marjorie Campbell, Spring City, Tenn.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mr. Tennant was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Nelle Tennant, Jessie "Dollie" Tennant and Edna Rubinton; and two brothers, Howard and Homer Tennant.
Visit www.hobbsjohnson.com to sign the memorial guestbook.
