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Irvin FENTON Obituary
Irvin was born Nov. 22, 1928 in Norge, Va., to Irvin and Clarice Ruth Fenton. When Irvin was nine months old the family moved to Newport News. He graduated from Newport News High School in February 1947.
He entered the work force of Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in March 1947. In February 1948, he was accepted into the Shipbuilding Apprentice School. His apprenticeship was cut short when he was drafted into the Army in 1951, during the Korean conflict. He served 19 months in Korea and upon discharge re-entered the Shipyard Apprentice School, graduating in April 1954, as a Ship Rigger. Irvin retired as a planner from Newport News Shipbuilding in January 1991, after 43 years of service.
Irvin was an avid recreational fisherman, active in Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman's Association. He won many awards, enjoyed teaching fishing classes, speaking on fishing techniques, and made fishing lures. Irvin was a member of Temple Baptist Church.
Irvin is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy Miller Fenton; daughters, Nan F. Harrington and her husband, Johnnie, Amy F. Leong and her husband, George, and Carol F. Benson and her husband, Peter; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Louise Y. Lawrence, and Joyce F. Blasingame and her husband, Clyde, both of Hampton; brother, George E. Fenton and his wife, Nan-C of Parump, Nev.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, at W.J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, 2010, at Temple Baptist Church with Pastor Lynn Hardaway officiating. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, Irvin requested donations be made for his and Nancy's granddaughter, to the National Foundation for Transplants Virginia Multi-Organ Fund, In Honor of Kerry Harrington Baumann, 5350 Poplar Street, Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119.
Irvin's family is thankful for the care of Dr. Kimberly Schlesinger, Caroline Lucas NP, and the staff of Peninsula Cancer Institute, and also Personal Touch nurses, Jessica and Kelly.
Please leave condolences at www.wjsmithandsonfh.com
Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Irvin FENTON
October 17, 2010
Nancy, I am so sorry to hear about Ivin's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Angelika Bolt (used to sit behind you and Irving in Church).
Evelyn Houtman
September 22, 2010
Nancy and Family, you are all in our prayers. Irvin was a blessing in your lives and although he is no longer with you we hope you can take comfort in the fact that he is no longer suffering but is celebrating in a better place.
Hank and Evelyn Houtman
September 21, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. He was a special person.
Nancy Reese Jones
Manchester, Tennessee
September 21, 2010
My sincerest sympathy to all of you especially my H.S. friend, Joyce & her Husband, Clyde. My thoughts & prayers are w/you. Margaret Ann Ph.
Sharon Kosier
September 21, 2010
To the Fenton Family
My deepest sympathies to your family. Although I do not remember meeting Irvin, I remember very well his sisters, Joyce and Louise. Irvin's mother, Ruth, and my grandmother, Grace, were sisters. Therefore, we are still family. I know that Irvin is celebrating with his heavenly family now, including my mom and dad, Alice and Elmer Turner.
Eleanor Kemp Hubbard
September 21, 2010
Nancy, so sorry for your loss. You are in my prayers.
Eleanor Hubbard
Belinda Willis
September 21, 2010
Mrs. Fenton, Nan, Amy, and Carol -
I always looked forward to Mr. Fenton's smiling face on Sunday mornings. My prayers and sympathies are with you at this time. I know he will be missed by many.
Belinda (Hazelwood) Willis
Hilda Corley
September 20, 2010
Nan,
My deepest sincerest sympathy for the loss of your dad. May fond memories of him help distant the pain. God Bless. Dutchie
Barbara Meador Hanna
September 20, 2010
An enoumous loss. I can honestly say I can see Mr. Fenton getting a big, loving hug from Thelma. From the Meador family to yours, our deepest condolences.
Steve Veazey
September 20, 2010
Irv Fenton accompanied me on several fishing trips with Dr. Bob Allen. It always brightened my day when I saw Irv was part of our fishing party. He was one of the most upbeat and sincere individuals I have ever known. A wonderful TYPHOON blessed us all.
Charles Southall
September 19, 2010
Nancy - We will all miss Mr. Fenton's friendship and his love of sharing the vast knowledge he'd accumulated over a lifetime of fishing.
In the early 90's, I spent a few minutes with him on the subject of catching striped bass at the james river bridge. He told me exactly what to do, and I tried...but wasn't successful. Well, I decided that on the day I went, there were no fish at the bridge. Just then, Irv came by in another boat only a few feet from mine. He was catching them two at a time! I've spent every other opportunity to talk with him hanging on every word he had to say. Simply trying to gain a little bit of what he knew. He always shared. He was a gentle soul, a fine fisherman and a good friend. We will miss him dearly.
May god be with you and the rest of the family at this difficult time.
Bobby Autry
September 19, 2010
On behalf of the Deer Park Baptist Church Men's Bible Fellowship Class, we are thankful for our dear brother Irvin's friendship and for his service to our Lord Jesus. May God comfort and bless Irvin's family.
Pepper Dedrick
September 19, 2010
To the Fenton Family: May God grant you peace in your time of grief & sorrow. You all will be in our thoughts and prayers.
John H. Dixon
September 19, 2010
Mrs. Fenton, Nan, Amy, and Carol - I am so sorry for your family's loss. Mr. Fenton was always one happy, positive gentleman, and will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers will be with You.
Frederick Mays
September 18, 2010
To the Fenton Family: My sincere sympathy to you in the loss of your loved one. Many years ago (1962), when I was in college, I worked one summer with Irvin in the Shipyard. He was kind, helpful, encouraging and a true Christian man. I am honored to have known him. Another thing, he was a true fellow Typhoon.
May God bless and keep you, knowing that Irvin is in a better place.
Fred Mays
September 18, 2010
Nancy,
Jody and I and the kids love you and send our condolences on the passing of Irvin to be with his Lord. Irvin was a fine Christian man and I always loved speaking with him and learning from him. My son Chris always held a special place in his heart for Irvin and loved talking to him. The world will certainly miss him, but Heaven is rejoicing over his arrival.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we want you to know that we love you and will be praying for you during this time.
God Bless you,
Jim, Jody,Stephanie and David Meier.
Dave & Lynn Arledge
September 18, 2010
Nancy, Dave and I are so sorry fo your loss. Irvin was a wonderul man and will be missed by all that knew him. Our thoughts an prayers are with you. Love Dave, Lynn, and the boys
Renae Robbins
September 18, 2010
Uncle Jr was always a special 2nd daddy to us (Renae, Lee and Ben Blasingame, Joyce's children). We loved being together with him, Aunt Nancy, and his family at picnics in the Fenton backyard. We would sit around eating and talking until the sun went to bed! The Blasingame family also had fun visiting all the Fentons at the Nags Head cottage. We have vivid memories of sitting at the cottage's kitchen picnic table lined with newspapers eating steamed crabs and reminiscing about the past. We miss him so much! Thank You, Lord, for blessing us with Uncle Jr.!!
September 18, 2010
Dear Fenton family,
I can appreciate your sorrow. Irvin was certainly a gentle soul his always bright outlook and encourgement will be missed.
In Christian Love
Lynnette Hess
September 18, 2010
We have lost on of the great ones. Irv was a lifetime member of the PSWSFA. It was an honor and a pleasure to know Irv. He always had a kind word for everyone. Talking with Irv was always educational. I am convinced the man knew everything about fishing. When we had “discovered� the blueline tilefish, Irv sat with me a dinner one evening. He pulled out a pen and started drawing on a napkin. You line up this tower with this lighthouse, run this course for so long….and so on. Then he started drawing bottom contours and said that big sea bass will be here and the tilefish will be on this side. Back then, they were trying not to catch the tilefish. I kept the napkin, and he was right. Even further back, when I had “discovered� the technique of rigging dead eels to troll for rockfish, he showed up with the heads he had made for that 50 years ago. Irv was always making some fishing contraption. He told me where, when, and how to troll those eels for the largest rockfish and again he was right. He did tell me I only needed the front hook on those eels (I was rigging them with two hooks). I went fishing with him one time and he pulled out a large eel. He had the thing rigged with 3 hooks. I mentioned that he had told me that I only needed the front hook. He said that was right, that was all I needed but he was using 3. Irv still holds the state record for albacore tuna. We will miss Irv but we sure were lucky to know him.
Ken Neill
PSWSFA
September 18, 2010
We will miss our wonderful neighbor and friend, but the memories will warm our hearts.
With love
Tim and Beverly
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