Cheryl Elaine Ward Tench

July 18, 2019

Cheryl Elaine Ward Tench, 88, a long-time resident of Kingsport, Tennessee, passed away on July 18, 2019 in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Cheryl was born in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania on December 26, 1930 to William and Edna Ward. Following graduation from Leechburg (Pennsylvania) High School she earned a Registered Nursing degree from Columbia Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1952. Cheryl married Donald Albert Tench on November 29th, 1952 and they remained loving husband and wife until his death on July 15, 2019. She passed away 3 days later. Cheryl worried about, fussed over and took care of Don until the very end. When her children were young she was a homemaker and took loving care of her family. She was a Cub Scout den mother and an occasional part-time student at Slippery Rock College, all accomplished while keeping her house perfectly clean. Cheryl relocated to Kingsport, Tennessee in 1970 and was employed at Holston Valley Hospital and Tennessee Eastman Company. She retired from Eastman in 1995 after 23 years of service as an Industrial Nurse in Eastman’s Medical Department. She was a member of the Tennessee Association of Occupational Health Nurses, and served as president of the organization for several years. The graduates of the Columbia Hospital Nursing School were a close group and enjoyed each other’s company at annual reunions until quite recently. Cheryl loved classical music and was an accomplished French horn player in high school and while in nursing school played with the Wilkinsburg Symphony. Mozart Horn Concertos and Pavarotti were particular favorites. Cheryl possessed a beautiful soprano singing voice and sang in the Leechburg Methodist Church choir. Along with her husband Don, Cheryl purchased a piano for the family and made sure that all types of music lessons were provided for their children throughout their childhood and adolescence. Education was an important value, and college educations were provided for all of their children. Cheryl loved the ocean and spearheaded many family vacations to the beaches of Ocean City, New Jersey, of the Carolinas and of Florida. She particularly enjoyed seashell hunting on Sanibel Island, Florida. During her retirement she and her husband Don enjoyed time in Bokeelia, Florida. Orphaned at a young age, Cheryl overcame many obstacles due to the force of her personality, her intelligence and her hard work. She achieved great success with her career, home and family. Cheryl was a member of the Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church of Kingsport. She enjoyed travel, playing bridge and camping. She liked to camp with the Eastman Camping Club and served as the club’s president for a period of time. She enjoyed picnicking at her favorite Eastman picnic site - #45. Cheryl had a keen sense of fashion with her style leaning to classic and simple. She made sure that her family always looked sharp. Her husband Don teased her that ironing was her favorite hobby. She had a great sense of fun, and prepared many incomparable family holiday meals. She enjoyed dining and spending time on her screened in porch whether with the family or alone. Cheryl and Don designed the porch themselves. Cheryl was not a big fan of dogs in general, but always loved the family dogs, with one dog “Maggie”, a Cairn terrier stealing her heart. Cheryl will be greatly missed, particularly for her witty, impatient and occasionally salty repartee during the family “board” game Bonanza. She and Don made a great duo. Cheryl was also preceded in death by her parents, sisters Joyce and Marilyn, and brothers Robert, Jack, and Eugene. She is survived by her children, William (Beth) of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania , Daniel (Sandy) of Athens, Georgia, Susan Jacobi (John) of Ft. Collins, Colorado; Granddaughters Lauren Tench Mancuso, Ava Jacobi, Cora Beth Tench, and Annie Tench; Grandson William Jacobi; and Great grandson Carter Mancuso. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. Cheryl spent a few years at Brookdale Rock Springs Assisted Living and the family would like to thank Suzy, Sharon, Jessica and Vicki for their help and assistance during that time. The family would also like to thank caregiver Faith Collins of Comfort Keepers for the loving care she showered upon both Cheryl and Don. Cheryl spent the last 15 months of her life at Morningstar Memory Care in Fort Collins, CO and the family would like to thank Catherine Mancha for leading by example and hiring the best staff ever. We would also like to thank Pam for her reassuring presence and Sara and all the staff for their loving care. A service and interment at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church Columbarium in Kingsport, Tennessee will be held a later date.