July 21, 2026, 80, Goldsboro – Eldon Dwight Sutton Sr., known to most as “Tenny”, passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
Carrying his legacy is his wife and true soulmate of 46 years, Jean; his sons, Chris and Cameron; his grandchildren, Chloe, Nick, Billie, and Nora; his great-granddaughter, Riley and an endless circle of family and friends who became family.
Tenny didn’t do anything halfway. He lived out loud, loved fiercely, and was unapologetically exactly who he was.
At Tenny’s request no formal funeral services will be held. Please keep Jean and the family in your thoughts and prayers as you share special memories of Tenny with each other.
For Chris, his dad was a blueprint. He was the finest electrician Chris had ever seen, a master of his craft who taught you how to do the job right, even if the lesson required a cuss word or two to really stick. Tenny was the dad who could fix any broken go-kart, build the ultimate treehouse, and demand perfection because he knew what his son was capable of. Most of those high expectations fell on Chris, who proudly carries the family trade and that same honest grit forward today.
For Cameron, his dad was the definition of strength and hard work, but also the man who taught him to find pure joy in the small things. It’s where he listened to his first ripping blues melody playing too loud on the speakers. He was the dad who built a trampoline just so the neighborhood kids had a place to laugh, and the man who defined community by making sure the door was always open and there was always enough food on the table for whoever walked through it.
For Jean, Tenny was her partner in every sense of the word. In the chaotic mess of parenting, in maintaining a family business, and in navigating the turns of life. He was her soulmate, a man who allowed life to be full of passion, laughter, and a deep, unspoken safety that only he could provide. For Tenny, Jean was safety, him knowing that she meant and lived every wedding vow.
Tenny was a proud Vietnam Veteran, serving with honor in the Army 5th Special Forces. He carried the weight of that service quietly, and there is a profound comfort in knowing he finally got the glorious, peaceful welcome home he deserved after all these years.
Tenny owned and operated Sutton Electric Company, building a reputation as solid as copper wire. For over 50 years, he welcomed many into the supply store, completed countless jobs, mentored new electricians, and gave to the community. He was also a dedicated Shriner and a proud member of the Wrecking Crew.
If you really wanted to know Tenny, you had to find him on his boat with a fishing rod in hand, or out in his workshop. The shop was his sanctuary, and each day was a little like this: a radio blasting a blues CD, a TV with a Nascar race on in the background, a dartboard scarred with many near misses, a bottle of Canadian Mist, and a rotating cast of friends to share it all with.
Tenny’s door was always open, his drinks were always poured, and his heart beneath the tough, hardworking exterior was bigger than he ever let on. He leaves behind a legacy of high expectations, deep laughter, a life well lived, and a family that will miss his loud, sometimes stubborn, but loving presence every single day.
Lastly, to Chloe, Nick, Billie, Nora and Riley: Papa loves you. Live each day searching for the laughter, standing tall, and giving kindness to the world. As the blues songs he loved so often remind us, life is beautiful. Walk through it with courageous hearts, lean into the joy, and always look out for one another.
Tenny, drop a line in the water, turn the blues up, and save a dance for Jean.
Just maintain.
Comments