Ronald “Ed” Gentry, 79, of Waltonville, Illinois, passed away at 9:47 am on January 11, 2022, at his residence in Waltonville, Illinois.
He was born January 31, 1942, in Evansville, Indiana to the late Joseph Edward and Mary Frank (Poole) Gentry. Ed married Carolyn Manees on August 6, 1960, and together they had three children and she survives. He later married Linda McCarthy in 1978 and she preceded him in death. He married Paula S. (Beckham) Gentry on January 5, 1995, in Bluford, Illinois and she preceded him in death on December 16, 2020.
Ed is survived by children, Ronald Gentry Jr. and wife, Cheri of Mount Vernon, Illinois, Mark Alan Gentry and wife, Debbie of Evansville, Indiana, Daniel Eric Gentry and wife, Maribeth of Seattle, Washington; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and stepchildren, Shannon Rogers and husband, Greg, Jackie England and husband, Scott, Dr. Kevin W. Pierce and wife, Chris, Reverend Jason D. Pierce and wife, Ginger, Bethany Johnson, and Brian.
Ed proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. He was a life member and past commander of the Mount Vernon AMVETS. Ed was a member of the Mount Vernon Baptist Temple and will be greatly missed.
A Visitation will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at Newell Funeral Home (601 South 42nd Street) in Mount Vernon, Illinois A Funeral Service will begin at 12:00 pm with Pastor Jason Newell officiating. Interment will follow at South Hickory Hill Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Full Military Rites will be held at the cemetery. Memorials may be made in Ed’s honor to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Call Newell Funeral Home at 618-246-0100 or visit newellfuneralhome.com for further information.
