Garry James Tenold, "GTO," passed away on Nov. 7, 2024, surrounded by his family in View, Washington, the place he called home his entire life. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother and friend, Garry lived with an adventurous spirit, generous heart and the ability to turn any moment into one filled with laughter.
Born on Oct. 11, 1946, Garry grew up on a dairy farm in View, where he worked alongside his late parents and sisters. Even as a young man, Garry was known for his dedication and work ethic, helping to keep the family farm running smoothly. In high school, he excelled as an athlete, earning MVP honors in football and baseball and leaving a legacy on the field that his classmates still remember.
After high school, Garry met his wife, Susan. They married and together raised two children, Torri and Zachary, to whom he devoted his life. Garry’s professional career spanned over three decades at RSG Forest Products, where he worked for 34 years. His co-workers and vendors were like a second family to him, and he cherished their friendships. Garry built strong bonds at RSG where he worked alongside his son for years.
At home, Garry’s life revolved around family and the homestead he lovingly cared for.
Garry also had a deep passion for cars, spending countless hours in his shop rebuilding the motor in his Camaro, fine-tuning his Lincoln, and preparing them for local car shows. A lifelong NASCAR fan and memorabilia collector, his love for racing could be heard every Sunday as he watched NASCAR in his shop.
Garry is survived by his wife, Susan; his son, Zachary Tenold, and daughter-in-law, Tonya Tenold; his daughter, Torri Villines, and son-in-law, Kevin Villines; grandchildren, Scarlette, Kaiya and Madison; and great-grandchildren, Lila, Mila and Daxton.
A celebration of Garry’s life will be held on Jan. 4, 2025, at the Battle Ground Community Center. The service will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by a celebration of life at 2:15 p.m. Friends and family are invited to join in sharing food, stories and memories of this remarkable man.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Garry Tenold's name to this amazing nonprofit that uses rock climbing as therapy for Parkinson's patients: https://www.upendingparkinsons.org/.
