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- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 26 Feb 2011.
CHENOWETH, RICHARD JOHN - passed away on Friday, February 25, 2011, at the age of 92. He was born on May 8, 1918, at the family home in Nutley, NJ. He is predeceased by his older brothers Harry and Robert Chenoweth, and wife Elizabeth "Molly". Known as "Dick", or "Richie" to his friends and "Dad", and "Papa" to his family. Richard is remembered as a lively, strong-spirited, handsome fellow with a charming, outgoing personality, a ringing laugh, and the ability to have fun wherever he went. He loved music, Broadway shows, movies, great food, traveling, Las Vegas, the Bahamas, tennis, Julia Roberts, horseracing, casinos, shopping (especially jewelry) - in fact, his appetite for life, fun and entertainment is legendary! He was a fabulous dancer, and just as light on his feet out on the tennis court. He was an equal-opportunity "funster", as apt to break in to song and dance at a swanky Vegas hotel or in a supermarket aisle. He had style, charisma and a big appetite for life. A talented musician, he played trumpet in dance and swing bands in the 30's, before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII. He married Elizabeth "Molly" Dyer in Toronto, before transferring to the US Air Force during the War. He was a flight instructor at air bases all over the USA. At the end of the War he took a job with PanAgra Airlines (which late became PanAm) flying cargo and passenger planes through the Andes Mountain Range between Peru and Argentina for some time, before returning to New Jersey to start his family. His working career was spent in finance and banking, but his passion was tennis. He was recognized as a gifted tennis player starting in his teens, and throughout his life he continued to play competitively in Professional/Amateur circles. In 1958 he moved to Boca Raton, FL, to serve at the First Bake and Trust as Vice President. He also lived in Boynton Beach, FL, for a number of years, as close to the tennis court as he could get. In 1999 he moved to Seymour, TN, where the entire extended family had built homes, and he lived in his splendid Man Cave in his daughter, Barbara's house. He filled his walls with wonderful pieces of art collected from his favorite regional artists G. Webb and Robert Tino. He is survived by daughters Barbara Pendergrass (Larry), Kathleen Huber (Steve), granddaughters Jennifer Decibus (Bob) and Kathleen Shields (Jason). He had 4 great-grandchildren, Joshua Pendergrass, Alex and Molly Shields, and Spencer Decibus, all of Seymour, TN. Cremation arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, 122 Peacock Court, Seymour, TN 37865. (865-577-2807) (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
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1918 - 2011 (92 years)
