Dr. Forrest Martin Tennant

Dr. Forrest Martin Tennant, DDS (Lt. Col. USAF Ret.), age 91, a resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. He was born Jan. 20, 1929, in Summers, Arkansas, the son of Fred Lawton Tennant and Dexter (Martin) Tennant.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Vernon Tennant, one sister, Dana Harrell, and one daughter-in-law, Susan (Rollins) Tennant. Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Vanzetta (Vannie), sons Jeffrey, Fred and Justin, all of Fayetteville; son Jason of Berryville; daughters in law Pam, Katie and Allison; “Grandsir” to 8 grandchildren, Adrian (Savic) and husband, Nemanja of Raleigh, North Carolina; Ashley (Hodson) and husband, Ryan of Fayetteville; Katie (Hollowell) and husband, Zachary of Prairie Grove; Nathan Tennant of Austin, Texas; Zachary Tennant of Fayetteville; Andrew Tennant and wife, Laci, of Berryville; Jackson and Campbell Tennant of Fayetteville, and 5 great grandchildren: Owen and Brody Tennant, William and Everett Hollowell and Luka Savic.
An entrepreneur of the highest order, Dr. Tennant proudly proclaimed “business” as his hobby, but he still modeled fatherhood by putting family first with avid support of sporting events, lake fun, music and his offsprings’ various endeavors. He practiced dentistry in Lincoln, Arkansas; Questa, New Mexico and other clinics in Northwest Arkansas, often displaying an uncanny ability to calm his patients while whistling in harmony with himself. He farmed his beloved homeplace near Sugar Hill, Arkansas, and owned both Number One Orchards in Lincoln, and Lincoln Poultry Supply. He was a Mason and Kiwanian, serving on the founding committee of the Arkansas Apple Festival in Lincoln, even leading his family band with his still-treasured Martin and Gibson guitars as the opening act for the first festival’s concert. He played and sang country music around NWA and always at home for Christmas, entrancing all (especially the little ones) with renditions of “C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S” and “Cattle Call.” He performed with Vannie and family at benefits and special events, serving and singing also for many years in both the Lincoln and Gentry United Methodist Churches. His rendition of “O Holy Night” will never be done more beautifully, always bringing all who heard it into the spirit of Christmas. Vannie and he were married at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville in 1952.
A University of Arkansas graduate, Dr. Tennant also led in collegiate ROTC and Pershing Rifles, earning an officer’s commission to serve from 1952 to 1980 in the Air Force, Air Force National Guard and Air Force Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
In lieu of flowers or for memorials, the family requests gifts to the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas, which can be made through the online giving site: https://onlinegiving.uark.edu. Through the website, donors may also designate the gift is in memory of Dr. (Lt. Col.) Tennant. Gifts may also be mailed to: University of Arkansas Foundation, Attn: Gift Services, 1002 W. Maple St., Fayetteville, AR 72701.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. The family will hold a private graveside service on Thursday, Dec. 10, at Ganderville Cemetery in Summers, with Pastor Larry Garrison of West Fork officiating. Grandchildren are designated as honorary pallbearers in honor of