Loving spouse, father, grandfather, fantastic-grandfather and pal, St. John Courtenay, Jr., age 95, of Murfreesboro, TN passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
A indigenous of Columbia, SC, he was the son of the late St. John Courtenay of Charleston, SC and Margaret Hayne Beattie Courtenay of Greenville, SC.
St. John was preceded in dying by his spouse of 66 decades, Ruth Carolyn Carpenter Courtenay in 2017, and his youngest son, William Ashmead Courtenay, II in 1973.
He is survived by his son, St. John Courtenay, III (Beth) of Arlington VA daughter, Anne Spencer Courtenay Davis (Jeff) of Murfreesboro, TN granddaughter, Courtenay Mason Davis Ahuja (Anand) of Nashville, TN and grandson, Jeffrey Clifton Davis, Jr. (Nandini) of Nashville. He was “Papa” to his 4 treasured fantastic-grandchildren, Sarina Mason Ahuja, Milo Davis Ahuja, Alexander Dylan Davis, and Margot Catherine Naik Davis all of Nashville, TN.
St. John was born on December 30, 1927 at residence in Columbia SC where he appreciated his early several years. Later on, he moved to Greenville with his mom and 3 more mature sisters as a climbing higher school freshman soon after the demise of his father throughout the Good Melancholy. He attended Greenville Substantial Faculty graduating in 1948 prior to attending Clemson University. After 1 year, he was despatched to Japan during the Korean War and upon completion of that tour of responsibility, he returned to total his textile engineering diploma at Clemson College.
St. John married Ruth Carolyn Carpenter at St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Charleston on October 6, 1951. Profession prospects introduced them to northern Alabama, first in Decatur and then later on in Huntsville.
A veteran of both equally the United States Army and Air Power throughout the Korean War, he commenced his vocation at Chemstrand, later on Monsanto, in Decatur, in advance of embarking on a 40-calendar year NASA career as a Specialist Engineer at Marshall House Flight Middle in Huntsville. Identified for his integrity, honesty, and difficult do the job ethic, he served on quite a few NASA staff projects, together with Saturn V, the place shuttle battery techniques, the lunar roving module and the Hubble space telescope. A person of his most loved reminiscences was the tale he advised about solving a challenging battery issue for NASA, for which he was celebrated.
St. John and Carolyn produced Huntsville residence for nearly five a long time as members of The Episcopal Church of the Nativity and many civic groups. They were awesome mother and father to their a few little ones, often encouraging them to go after their goals and educational plans, while supporting their quite a few activities. St. John liked to get his kids swimming in the summer time, go through to them, assist with math homework, guidance their personal interests, and lead them on their once-a-year trek to Sullivan’s Island every summer to check out with loved ones in South Carolina.
Identified as a gentleman of deep faith, St. John lived by The Golden Rule. He would persuade other folks that, “Good forged on the h2o returneth,” and “There but by the grace of God go I.” A cradle Episcopalian, he was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Murfreesboro considering the fact that 2016 right after he and Carolyn relocated to be in close proximity to family members.
As a widower and resident of The Villages of Murfreesboro, St. John was invited to deliver a Sunday sermon every and every 7 days for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, totaling 56 sermons. He was a continual encourager, an avid Bible reader, and a man of prayer absolutely devoted to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by way of his each day terms and actions. He spread kindness to absolutely everyone God positioned in his path every and each and every working day.
The family members is grateful for the convenience and treatment provided by each individual member of The Villages of Murfreesboro staff such as Sue, Hope, Teresa, Rebecca, Yolanda, Jackie, Bobby, Ty, and Jeb. Special appreciation goes to his helpers, Amanda and Margaret, for their kindness and gentle caregiving.
The relatives requests memorials be produced to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 116 N Academy St, Murfreesboro, TN, 37130 or the Boys and Ladies Golf equipment of Rutherford County, 820 Jones Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN, 37129.
A funeral provider will be held Friday, January 13, 2023 at 3:00 pm ct at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Graveside services will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm et at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Greenville, SC.
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