Conrad Coolidge Gentry

Conrad was born in the 1920’s on a summer day on the family farm in Cookeville, Tennessee. He was the sixth of eight children in the family of John L. and Mona Gentry. The family moved between Tennessee and Florida, often wintering in Florida to work the strawberry fields, before settling in Lakeland, Florida in January 1939.

With America entering WWII, Conrad was part of the 18-year-old draft and was inducted into the Army on March 11, 1943, at Camp Blanding in Jacksonville, Florida. This Florida boy received a shock to his system when he arrived at Camp Ellis in Rockford, Illinois, a training center for medical airmen and medics. He went from hot sunny days to a place that was colder than any Florida or Tennessee winter! To make matters worse, there weren’t enough barracks, so the men were housed in tents. A pot-bellied stove provided heat, but it was either too hot or too cold. A sunny day would make the tent blistering hot, and they would roll up the sides to cool off, then roll them back down later in the day. When a call was made for kitchen duty volunteers, Conrad figured this would be a great way to stay warm and jumped at the chance to sign up for permanent KP and became a second cook.

He was stationed at other camps including Camp Grant in Illinois, attended baker’s school at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest while stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington State. His overseas service was in the Southwest Pacific on the islands of Saipan and Tinian. Conrad was part of the 304th General Hospital and received an honorable discharge as a Technician 5th grade on February 26, 1946.

He used his G.I. Bill to attend Bible Training School & College in Sevierville, Tennessee, which later moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, and is now Lee University. After moving to Seattle, he attended Simpson Bible College, now Simpson University, in Seattle, Washington.

Conrad met Irene Jordeth in Seattle and they were married January 14, 1949, and had four children: Martin, Bruce, Connie, and Wanda. He worked for the Boeing company for 39 years, starting as a riveter/machinist. Because he was a small man, he was often sent into the airplane wings to “buck rivets.” He was a man ahead of his time when he wore ear plugs as well as earmuffs before it was mandatory, and, as a result, had good hearing his entire life.

He was a member of the American Legion which was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s organization, focusing on service to veterans, active military, and communities. Conrad enjoyed attending the meetings and events at the Legion Post in Marysville, Washington. At one meeting, he was invited to participate in the Honor Flight program which sponsors veterans on a trip to national and military service memorials in Washington D.C. The trip was very honoring, and he felt like a celebrity with the motorcycle escort, and many people approaching him to thank him for his service to our country.

Conrad’s faith was strong. He survived and recovered from many physical issues including an unfortunate accident that caused severe burns to his face, neck, chest and arms, prostate cancer, atrial fibrillation, and several bouts with aspiration and pneumonia where he graduated out of Hospice care because he was too healthy. While living at his children’s homes, they often heard him say, “Thank You, Lord, for healing.”

His greatest passions in life were reading, telling others about our Heavenly Father’s amazing love, and praying for anyone in need. Conrad was blessed with clarity of mind and enjoyed discussing whatever he was reading. He loved to read a variety of books about history and science, but treasured reading the Bible and devotionals, and had memorized many scriptures over the years. If you were ever in a Bible quiz, he would be the person you wanted on your team! He volunteered on a prayer line for many years, encouraging numerous people and making many friends. One of his friends recently commented, “Conrad is proof that prayer works and makes a difference. I will miss his prayerful support for my family.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, John L. and Mona Gentry; siblings Jewell Raulerson, Mildred Judd, Hester Gentry, Lewis Gentry, and James Gentry; and wife of 59 years, Irene Gentry. He is survived by four children, Martin (Alice) Gentry, Bruce (Laurie) Gentry, Connie (Steve) McCormick, and Wanda (Paul) Thompson; eleven grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; two sisters, Bobbie Woodard of Lakeland, Florida, and Wilma Amison of Dallas, Georgia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Conrad liked to joke and kept a positive attitude. He would whistle, sing various songs and hymns, tap out a rhythm with his hands or feet, and offer a smile to anyone nearby. He entered the presence of the Lord June 1, 2022. Our lives will be forever changed by the loss of his beautiful spirit.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be in honor of Conrad C. Gentry to World Vision, https://www.worldvision.org/donate or The Gideons International, https://sendtheword.org/Product/ProductDetail?prd_key=c4c5890c-2c94-425f-9e0a-6b5c1ce47da2&catTypeKey=38e90af0-d611-4e45-a0ed-cf6867875140

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SchaeferShipmanFuneral.com for the Gentry family.