Pete and Tess Tintle June 26, 2011

Sunday June 26, 2011

Tess and Pete were both born in small town America, Tess in Clifton-Glendale, South Carolina and Pete in Demarest, New Jersey. How these two disparate souls (that’s “disparate” not “desperate”, well Pete can be a little desperate but I digress)… how these two souls managed to find each other over the next 30 years and one thousand miles is still a mystery. But the miracle and the blessing is that they did. Tess by way of Charlotte, NC where she devoted herself to the study and practice of nursing at the Presbyterian School of Nursing  and Peter by way of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta in pursuit of Social Work. After experiencing Georgia’s warmth and hospitality, Peter soon realized that the Big Apple was not his favorite fruit and decided instead to seek shelter somewhere south of Gaffney’s Big Peach near his best friends Dave and Alice Hurst. And so it happened where Tess had volunteered to draw blood and Peter had volunteered to donate that the two would be introduced in the infirmary at the School for the Deaf and the Blind in Spartanburg. When Peter returned home that Christmas to visit his family he brought with him his most beautiful and charming fiancé as his gift.

Tess’s father, the Reverend Ralph Carter, a Methodist Minister (and fine judge of character) agreed to perform the sacred covenant of holy matrimony in May of 1978 where Pete and Tess were consecrated as one. And every year since that day, Peter has struggled to remember their anniversary before Tess has to remind him. Anyway during those 32 or is it 33 years, they lived and worked in South Carolina, Tess at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center and Pete at DSS and Spartanburg Tech. 

Together they raised two precious and loving children, Eric and Lauren, who have now grown up to pursue their own lives and careers. This, leaving the nest quite empty (except for their loyal Shih Tzu Pup), suggested that Pete and Tess find something new to do with their lives.

And so they did….

They discovered Hendersonville. Just a few miles up the road but to them it’s a whole ‘nother world.  And the United Church of Christ, a very, very special place and congregation that Pete and Tess feel very blessed and honored to be part of.