Dennis George Greenwood, 84, died on Jan. 23. He was a native of Kankakee, Ill., born on March 27, 1939, and he was the only son of the late Ernest and Leah Greenwood.
Mr. Greenwood was a resident of the Heritage Ridge community in Hixson for 25 years, where he proudly served as the HOA president for several years. He was a member of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga.
At age 18, Mr. Greenwood and his best friend, Dick Williams, joined the U.S. Navy under the Buddy Plan. Their orders did not come as promised, and Mr. Greenwood was sent to Norfolk, Va. He served on the USS Boston as a mechanic in the Drone Unit while Mr. Williams was sent to San Diego and served on a destroyer as a boiler tender.
Although their Buddy Plan fell through, Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Williams remained lifetime buddies and opened the D&D City Service Gas Station together after proudly serving their country with honor in the U.S. Navy.
In 1962, Mr. Greenwood married Linda DeCarlo, his best friend who later became his sweetheart. They were married for 61 years. Together they had two daughters, Shelly (Rodney) Mitchell and Christy Greenwood, and one son, Darren (Holly) Greenwood; four grandchildren, Reid and Chloe Mitchell, and Kyle and Brayden Greenwood; and eight nieces and nephews, Doug, Dennis, Danna, Darcy, Lesa and David Blanchette, Shelia Green, and Stephanie Jenkins. Other family members include two sisters, Diane Blanchette (deceased) and Linda Landgraf, as well as beloved friends Donna and Wilson Gee and Joann Story.
In 1964, Mr. Greenwood began his 28-year career with Roper Corp. in Kankakee, Ill. After working on the assembly line for eight years, he was transferred to Lafayette, Ga., where he helped Harry Betourne start up the new Roper Corp. plant. After advancing through the managerial ranks, he was appointed general superintendent of the Lafayette plant.
Mr. Greenwood was hardworking and enjoyed fixing things. He also enjoyed golf, coin collecting, playing cards, cars, working in his yard, family vacations in his RV, and his West Highland terriers.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Greenwood was celebrated on Feb. 16 at St. Jude Church. Following the funeral Mass, a burial service with full military honors was at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Donations in Mr. Greenwood’s memory can be made to St. Jude Church, 930 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415.
