Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mary Fern Ehninger

June 28, 1925 - March 13, 2008

South Bend Tribune 3/16/2008
SOUTH BEND - Mary Fern (Templeton) Ehninger, 82, of Sandpiper Cove, South Bend, Indiana, went to be with her Lord on March 13, 2008. Fern was born in Union Grove, North Carolina, on June 28, 1925, to Calaway Calbert Templeton and Fanny Leona Ireland, who preceded her in death. Fern attended and graduated from Union Grove High School in 1940 where she was valedictorian of her graduating class, which was not surprising for someone who had entered high school at the age of 12. While in high school in 1938, Fern was a debate finalist, winning a North Carolina State championship. In 1941 Fern took a post-graduate high school year taking all business courses available. She then entered Pfeiffer Junior College in North Carolina and graduated in 1943.

While at Pfeiffer College, Fern met Charles Ehninger, who started out as a pen pal and became her best friend. They were married November 30, 1946, and lived happily ever after. Together Fern and Charlie owned and operated a successful business, the Ehninger Florist Shop. While Charlie was the design talent, Fern, with her business background and bubbly personality, worked as the business manager, employee supervisor and customer conversationalist. When Fern and Charlie were not working, they enjoyed traveling around the United States, Hawaii, Fiji, Tonga, Greece, Israel, Europe and especially Germany. Fern cherished her family. She was preceded in death by her only child, a son, Don Charles Ehninger in 2000. Also preceding her in death were four brothers, Noel Grey Templeton (Mary Elizabeth), Sidney Stokes Templeton (Mary James), Joel Dwight Templeton (Betty Lou) and Caloway Calvert Templeton (Grace); and two sisters, Emma Merle Messick (Jack) and Virginia Mozelle Sloan (Ellihue). Surviving to treasure her memory are her brother, Julius Ralph Templeton (Phyllis) of Statesville, NC; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Jean Ehninger (Krouse) of Knoxville, TN; three granddaughters, Keri Ehninger Schmidt (Carl), Jamie C. Ehninger and Holly Lynn Boles (Randy); along with three great-grandchildren, Vivian Donn Boles, Grace Charlotte Schmidt and Charles William Schmidt. Fern enjoyed her many friends and her church family at Portage Prairie United Methodist Church, Niles, MI. Fern's family and friends were the joy of her abundant life.