Ronald Paul Tenbush, 68, a resident of Pflugerville, Texas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. Ron was born in San Antonio, Texas to parents Wallace Paul Tenbush and Dorothy Lynn McAfee. He was the youngest of four children. He grew up on the south side of San Antonio, where he attended Highlands High School and was active in the youth group at Highland Hills Church of Christ. He also worked part-time at the Carpet Center, a family owned business, where he learned about salesmanship and how to ‘seal the deal’. This skill would be an asset in the career choices he made throughout his life.
Ron set out for Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas, in the fall of 1971. Many of his friends were attending ACC and this seemed like a good plan for him also. At ACC he studied youth ministry and worked part-time as a youth minister in Abilene and in Liberal, Kansas during his college years. After his sophomore year, he decided to pursue a degree in business and began working part-time at a jewelry store. While at ACC he met his wife, Janice Ann Hoskins. They married in January 1976 and enjoyed a loving commitment to each other for 45 years.
After graduating from ACC in 1975 with a BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), he continued his training in jewelry and earned a certificate from The Diamond Council of America. Later he became a certified gemologist after completing a program with the Gemnological Institute of America – the GIA. At this time he learned how to design, cast, set, and polish jewelry and gems, as well as how to use and care for jeweler’s tools and equipment. During his years as a jeweler he worked for several jewelry chains and independent jewelers in Texas and Louisiana.
After many years in the jewelry industry, Ron decided to put his skills in management and technology to use, which eventually led to a career at Harte Hanks, Inc. At Harte Hanks, Ron managed accounts such as the U.S. Postal Service, and mentored many young employees whose careers were just getting started. Recently, Ron did freelance work in IT at Westover Hills Church of Christ and other small businesses.
Ron loved God, his family and his friends. Ron, Janice and their family settled in Austin, Texas, where Ron was active at Westover Hills Church of Christ and served as a deacon for many years. He was a good friend and was always willing to help with youth activities, technology, and especially the sound room at Westover Hills. He volunteered in the bus ministry and drove buses for youth trips in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, and three long trips to Minnesota. He enjoyed fishing, camping and hiking with his family, as well as traveling to an assortment of destinations across the U.S. He tolerated museums and conversation about the history of each town his family traveled through on road trips. He gained an interest in genealogy research while living in Louisiana in 1983. The quest for new information about his family tree continued all of his life. His personal goal was to share and make this information accessible to his entire family. He was proud of his family and made his children and grandchildren feel individually special. He enjoyed watching his grandkids play sports and perform music, and shared a love for singing and playing folk music with his kids. The lake house he recently built on Lake Buchanan will be a forever reminder of the love he had for his family.
Ron is survived by his wife, Janice Hoskins Tenbush; his son, Matt Tenbush and his wife Candi Tenbush of Hutto, TX; his daughter Jill Kennedy and her husband Nathan Kennedy of Austin, TX; his daughter Jenny Abrego and her husband Marco Abrego of Houston, TX; and his grandkids, Skyler Kennedy, Clementine Kennedy, Jack Tenbush and Charlie Tenbush. He is also survived by his sisters Linda Spiess of Mathis, TX, and Judy Canon of Itasca, TX, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard Paul Tenbush.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at Westover Hills Church of Christ, 8332 Mesa Dr., Austin, TX 79759. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, and a service will start at 1:00 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the Tenbush family in care of Westover Hills Church of Christ.
