Haberhsam Co., GA - Obituaries - Rev. Hoyt Tench *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: "Kim Gordon" Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************************************** May 28, 2002 The Northeast Georgian Rev. Hoyt Tench Funeral services for the Rev. Hoyt O. Tench, 79, of Alto will be held today, May 28, at 2 p.m. at Level Grove Baptist Church. The Rev. Billy Burrell and the Rev. John Humphries will officiate with the Rev. Terry Rice officiating at graveside in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. Tench died Sunday, May 26, 2002, at a private nursing home following an extended illness. Born on Aug. 4, 1922, in Habersham County, he was a son of the late George W. and Dora Erwin Tench. He was preceded in death by a son, Tony Tench; brothers, Ted Tench, J.C. Tench, Bobby Tench; and sister, Mildred Smith. The Rev. Tench was a U.S. Army World War II veteran. He was a retired minister having pastored and helped form several churches in Georgia and Virginia. He had also been on mission trips to Arizona ministering to Native Americans. The Rev. Tench was retired from Southern Railway as an engineer with 30 years of service. He was also employed by the Tallulah Falls Railway as an engineer and fireman. The Rev. Tench was a member of the Cornelia Masonic Lodge F&AM No. 92, and the Mountaineer Shrine Club. He was a member of the International Police Chaplains and one of the first chaplains to serve at the Habersham County Medical Center. He was also a board member on the Depot Restoration Committee and a board member of Rails to Trails in Tallulah Falls. The Rev. Tench was a chaplain for the Habersham Chapter No. 480 Order of the Eastern Star and was the grand chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Georgia. Survivors include his wife, Catherine Dalton Tench of Alto; daughters, Linda Denmon of Powder Springs, Cheryl Gordon of Demorest; sisters, Cleo West of Cleveland, Ora Lee Nicholson of Clarkesville, Marie Ledford of Gastonia, N.C., JoAnn Meloy of Lawrenceville; brothers, George Lester Tench of Gastonia, N.C., Mike Tench of Belmont, N.C.; seven grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Rails to Trails, Tallulah Falls. Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, is in charge of arrangements.