Raymond Tennant (Coach) 1920 - 2015
Raymond John Tennant
January 5, 1920 -April 20, 2015
Raymond John Tennant, 95, died Monday, April 20, 2015, at Cornerstone Hospice House, The Villages, FL, after a long life of dedicated service to his country, education, community youth, and his beloved family.
Respects for Mr. Tennant begin Thursday, April 30, 2015 at the Van Hoe Funeral Home LTD, East Moline, IL, where a rosary will be said at 3:30 p.m.
Visitation will immediately follow the rosary, and continue until 7 p.m.
Funeral services are scheduled for Fri., May 1, ‘15 at Christ the King Catholic Church, Moline, IL, at 10. Burial services will follow at Rock Island National Cemetery, where military honors will be conducted by U.S. Navy Honor Guard and East Moline American Legion Post 227.
Raymond John was born January 5, 1920, in Beverly, Linn County, IA, to William Jesse and Susie Viola (Hayworth) Tennant. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, IA, Parsons College, Fairfield, IA, and Northeast Missouri State University, Kirksville, MO, obtaining his Masters in Physical Education.
Ray married the love of his life, Catherine Ellen Quinn, on June 26, 1943, in Kansas City, KS, while serving as a pilot in the U.S. Navy. They were married 68 years, until Catherine’s death September 14, 2011.
Ray joined the United States Navy in 1941, completing flight training at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in 1942. In June of 1943, LTJG Tennant was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, with four clusters, for submarine hunting in the Atlantic flying a Grumman Wildcat off the USS Bogue. In April 1944, Lt. Tennant received the Bronze Star for his training of Air Group 20 & Air Group 90 Fighter & Torpedo pilots, landing aircraft at night on the USS Enterprise (CV-6) for the very first time. Lt. Tennant continued to serve as NLSO, Night-time Land Signal Officer on the USS Enterprise, until the end of WWII. In 1947, LCDR Tennant was assigned to the British Navy at Malta to train the British Navy on U.S. Navy Landing protocols and techniques for aircraft carriers. He then served on the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) during the Korean Conflict, and again later in 1951. In the last few years of his career he served as oversight of numerous naval contracts with U.S. manufacturers. His last assignment was at the Bureau of Naval Weapons in Washington D.C., where he served until retirement on June 30, 1962.
After 21 years of military service, Ray returned to Iowa to finish his degree at Parsons College in 1963, and receive his Masters at Northeast Mo. State University in 1964. Then looking to give back, Ray accepted a teaching and coaching job at Ottumwa Walsh High School in 1964. In 1965, he accepted the job as Athletic Director and Head Basketball coach for Walsh, where he coached the Gaels five years, leading them to three appearances in the Final Four of the Iowa Boy’s State Basketball Tournament, and four River City Conference Championships. He then went on to coach Boy’s Basketball at John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo, NE, and Bishop Newman High School in Mason City, IA, in 1972 and 1974, respectively. In 1975, Ray became a Recreation Director for Kansas City, Kansas where he served the youth of Kansas City, until his retirement in October 1985. Ray and his wife Catherine relocated to Silvis, IL, in 1985, to be near his daughter’s family, and in 2012, after the death of his wife, he relocated to Bay City, TX, to be near his son’s family.
Ray had a strong love of sports, both as player and fan, particularly baseball, basketball, and football. He also loved fishing and hunting with family and friends.
Ray’s wife, Catherine Ellen; children, Catherine Hester and William Joseph Tennant; his parents, William Jesse and Susie Viola Tennant; his siblings, George Wayne Tennant, Wilma Ellen Tennant, Hugh Elmer Tennant, and Lynn Jesse Tennant; precede him in death.
Survivors include children, Catherine Quinn Dannenfeldt of The Villages, FL and Raymond John (Cindy) Tennant Jr. of Bay City, TX; his sister, Eva Sue Johnson of Arboles, CO; seven grandsons, Joseph, Steven, Mathew, and Michael Dannenfeldt, and Raymond, Patrick, and Daniel Tennant; and twelve great-grandchildren.
For memorials in honor of Mr. Tennant’s life, the family suggests donations to the USO or your local high school sport programs.
On line condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com.