Obituary of William E. Tennyson

CHESTERTOWN: William (Bill) Edward Tennyson of Chestertown passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on January 16, 2026, at the age of 90.

Born February 7, 1935, he is predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Beverly (Walker) Tennyson, his parents Arthur and Ruth (Perry) Tennyson and his brothers Arthur (Baldy) Tennyson and Joseph Tennyson.

Bill worked for the New York State Department of Transportation for thirty years, retiring as a foreman on a highway maintenance crew.

Bill was a farmer at heart. His home & farm at “Hill Clyde Acres” was his favorite place to be.  His favorite thing to do was to cut and bail hay. The beautiful home & many barns were all built by his own two hands. He had every kind of animal over the years.

He raised Clydesdale Horses for many years, using them to work his land, in parades & taking his family into the woods to cut their Christmas tree every year. He and his brother Baldy were featured on the cover of the Draft Horse Journal magazine with their teams.

He was also well known for his Magpie Pigeons. He wrote many articles for Rare Breed Pigeon Magazine over the years and won many awards for his beautiful birds and sold them all over the world. At the age of 88 he traveled to California with his girls and met many pigeon fancier associates and saw some of the birds he had raised and sent there.

Besides California, he enjoyed trips to Maine, Montana & Disney with his family.

He also loved music, reading, old cars and the Boston Celtics.

Left to cherish his memory are his son Robert (Frankie) Wood, his daughters Ruby Tennyson, Brenda Lewis and Lorinda Tennyson.  His grandchildren Robert Wood Jr., Carrie Wood, Benjamin Wood, Bridget (Bud) Norton, Ryan Abare, Rosie (Bennie) Hurt, Isabella Polk and seven great grandchildren: Troy Melecci-Baker, Logan Melecci-Baker, Samuel Abare, Joshua Abare, Jacob Wood, Mia Bundrick and Jackson Norton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to: Chestertown Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 474, Chestertown, NY 12817.

Friends are invited to call on Bill’s family on Saturday, January 24, 2026 from Noon – 2pm at Alexander Funeral Home, 3809 Main Street, Warrensburg, NY. A funeral service will follow visitation at 2pm. Burial will take place in the spring at Chestertown Rural Cemetery. 

Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online condolences, guest book and directions.