Donald Jean Tenney passed away, peacefully, after a battle with lung cancer, Thursday, January 15, 2009, at his home in Paso Robles.
Donald, the fourth child of David and Cleo Tenney, was born August 3, 1928, in
Abeytas, New Mexico. After various moves around the southwest the family settled in Central Valley, CA, where Don grew up.
He graduated in 1946 from Shasta High School in Redding. He worked in construction up and down the state with his father until he entered the Air Force. During the Korean War he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska.
While stationed in Alaska he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Bond of Redding. They were married 28 years and had two daughters before divorcing in 1979. They remained good friends throughout the remainder of his life.
After the war, Don entered California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and graduated in 1959 with a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering.
Don spent his career in Silicon Valley and made significant contributions to the infant semiconductor industry in California. In his career he worked for many of the larger companies: Fairchild, Ratheon, and National Semiconductor. Later he did specialty work for Supertex and Abbott Labs.
While at Supertex, Don met the love of his life, Julia Ropero Davis. They were married in June of 1984. During his working years he traveled to various countries, setting up semiconductor assembly plants. He spent several months in Haiti, Mexico, Singapore and Scotland. He circled the globe twice during this time. He retired in 1995 and moved back to Paso Robles in 2001.
Don is survived by his wife, Julia; two daughters, Claire Fryer of Paso Robles and Donna Keeley of Escondido, step-daughter Gina Schmitt of Whittier; brother, Hugh Tenney and sister, Ruth Wintle, both of Redding; and six grandchildren, Brendan & Erin Fryer, Sean & Mitchell Keeley, and Chase & Cole Schmitt.
Don's wishes were that there be no services.
Published in the Redding Record Searchlight on 1/24/2009
Donald, the fourth child of David and Cleo Tenney, was born August 3, 1928, in
Abeytas, New Mexico. After various moves around the southwest the family settled in Central Valley, CA, where Don grew up.
He graduated in 1946 from Shasta High School in Redding. He worked in construction up and down the state with his father until he entered the Air Force. During the Korean War he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska.
While stationed in Alaska he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Bond of Redding. They were married 28 years and had two daughters before divorcing in 1979. They remained good friends throughout the remainder of his life.
After the war, Don entered California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and graduated in 1959 with a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering.
Don spent his career in Silicon Valley and made significant contributions to the infant semiconductor industry in California. In his career he worked for many of the larger companies: Fairchild, Ratheon, and National Semiconductor. Later he did specialty work for Supertex and Abbott Labs.
While at Supertex, Don met the love of his life, Julia Ropero Davis. They were married in June of 1984. During his working years he traveled to various countries, setting up semiconductor assembly plants. He spent several months in Haiti, Mexico, Singapore and Scotland. He circled the globe twice during this time. He retired in 1995 and moved back to Paso Robles in 2001.
Don is survived by his wife, Julia; two daughters, Claire Fryer of Paso Robles and Donna Keeley of Escondido, step-daughter Gina Schmitt of Whittier; brother, Hugh Tenney and sister, Ruth Wintle, both of Redding; and six grandchildren, Brendan & Erin Fryer, Sean & Mitchell Keeley, and Chase & Cole Schmitt.
Don's wishes were that there be no services.
Published in the Redding Record Searchlight on 1/24/2009
Donald Jean Tenney passed away, peacefully, after a battle with lung cancer, Thursday, January 15, 2009, at his home in Paso Robles.
Donald, the fourth child of David and Cleo Tenney, was born August 3, 1928, in
Abeytas, New Mexico. After various moves around the southwest the family settled in Central Valley, CA, where Don grew up.
He graduated in 1946 from Shasta High School in Redding. He worked in construction up and down the state with his father until he entered the Air Force. During the Korean War he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska.
While stationed in Alaska he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Bond of Redding. They were married 28 years and had two daughters before divorcing in 1979. They remained good friends throughout the remainder of his life.
After the war, Don entered California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and graduated in 1959 with a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering.
Don spent his career in Silicon Valley and made significant contributions to the infant semiconductor industry in California. In his career he worked for many of the larger companies: Fairchild, Ratheon, and National Semiconductor. Later he did specialty work for Supertex and Abbott Labs.
While at Supertex, Don met the love of his life, Julia Ropero Davis. They were married in June of 1984. During his working years he traveled to various countries, setting up semiconductor assembly plants. He spent several months in Haiti, Mexico, Singapore and Scotland. He circled the globe twice during this time. He retired in 1995 and moved back to Paso Robles in 2001.
Don is survived by his wife, Julia; two daughters, Claire Fryer of Paso Robles and Donna Keeley of Escondido, step-daughter Gina Schmitt of Whittier; brother, Hugh Tenney and sister, Ruth Wintle, both of Redding; and six grandchildren, Brendan & Erin Fryer, Sean & Mitchell Keeley, and Chase & Cole Schmitt.
Don's wishes were that there be no services.
Published in the Redding Record Searchlight on 1/24/2009
Donald, the fourth child of David and Cleo Tenney, was born August 3, 1928, in
Abeytas, New Mexico. After various moves around the southwest the family settled in Central Valley, CA, where Don grew up.
He graduated in 1946 from Shasta High School in Redding. He worked in construction up and down the state with his father until he entered the Air Force. During the Korean War he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska.
While stationed in Alaska he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Bond of Redding. They were married 28 years and had two daughters before divorcing in 1979. They remained good friends throughout the remainder of his life.
After the war, Don entered California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and graduated in 1959 with a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering.
Don spent his career in Silicon Valley and made significant contributions to the infant semiconductor industry in California. In his career he worked for many of the larger companies: Fairchild, Ratheon, and National Semiconductor. Later he did specialty work for Supertex and Abbott Labs.
While at Supertex, Don met the love of his life, Julia Ropero Davis. They were married in June of 1984. During his working years he traveled to various countries, setting up semiconductor assembly plants. He spent several months in Haiti, Mexico, Singapore and Scotland. He circled the globe twice during this time. He retired in 1995 and moved back to Paso Robles in 2001.
Don is survived by his wife, Julia; two daughters, Claire Fryer of Paso Robles and Donna Keeley of Escondido, step-daughter Gina Schmitt of Whittier; brother, Hugh Tenney and sister, Ruth Wintle, both of Redding; and six grandchildren, Brendan & Erin Fryer, Sean & Mitchell Keeley, and Chase & Cole Schmitt.
Don's wishes were that there be no services.
Published in the Redding Record Searchlight on 1/24/2009
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