Rev. Canon David B. Terns

Rev. Canon David B. Terns
Mohawk
The Rev. Canon David B. Terns, age 100, formerly of 7 E. Main St., Mohawk, Retired Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Mohawk, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 8, 2009, at Valley Health Services, Herkimer, where he had resided for several years. He was born on April 13, 1909, in Middletown, NY, the son of Fred and Edith (Bookstaver) Terns. Father Terns graduated from Walton High School in 1927 and General Theological Seminary of N.Y.C. (the first and oldest Theological Seminary in the U.S.A.) and attended Columbia University in N.Y.C. He was a veteran of WW II, serving in the U.S. Army. Father Terns was a member of the 505th Coast Artillery, which were first to use radar in detection of aircraft. On August 31, 1946, he was married to Violet Black in Union City, NJ. She died on July 10, 1974. Father Terns was ordained a Deacon of the Episcopal Church in January 1955 and on August 10, 1955, he was ordained an Episcopal Priest. In his early years, Father Terns was the Rector of Episcopal churches in Rouses Point, NY, Grandville, NY, and White Hall, NY. Most recently, he has been Rector of the Grace Episcopal Church, Mohawk, for 14 years, retiring in 1979. He later was named Honorary Canon to the Episcopal Cathedral in Albany. He was also named Rector Emeritus of the Grace Episcopal Church, Mohawk. Survivors include his daughters, Catherine Terns and her fiance, Stanley Everson, of Mohawk, and Susan Oram, of Ilion; three grandchildren, Jennifer Hapeman and her husband, Marc, Bridget Oram and Shelby Terns; seven great-grandchildren, Kevin Oram, Andrew Hennings, Nikki, Steven, Chelsea and Victoria Hapeman, and Seth Guido; and special friends, Dick and Kathy Drumm, and Hank and Marilyn LaFlair and family. He was predeceased by his son, David B. Terns, Jr., on April 16, 2008. The Celebration of the Life of the Rev. Canon David B. Terns will be held 11 AM, Thursday, June 11, 2009, at the Grace Episcopal Church, 9 E. Main St., Mohawk, with Bishop William H. Love as Principal Celebrant and Concelebrants Rev. William Wheeler, Rev. Paul Bailey and Rev. George Greene officiating. Calling hours are Wednesday (today) from 5 PM - 7 PM at the Graves-Applegate-Day Funeral Home, 48 E. Main St., Mohawk. Anyong wishing to share a memory of Father Terns or add to his online memorial may go to www.applegateandday.com on the Internet. The family wishes to thank the second floor (2E) staff at Valley Health Services for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Episcopal Church or Valley Health Services. All funeral and burial arrangements were prearranged and entrusted to Graves-Applegate-Day Funeral Home of Mohawk, Don Applegate, Funeral Director.
Father Terns