John Calvin Kent

John Calvin Kent, 64, a resident of Randleman, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, after a brief illness while trucking through Georgia. He was born April 18, 1957, in Greensboro, NC, the son of the late Henry Calvin and Margaret Rosalee Warden Kent.

John loved being a professional big-rig truck driver. He started his life’s work at age 25 after being taught how to drive an 18-wheeler by his friend, Roger Williams. For 31 years of his life, he helped keep America moving by transporting food, clothing, and many other necessities. Several times he delivered emergency items like generators to stores in disaster areas. He recounted that on one such occasion, the flood water reached almost to the top of the wheelbase. During all his years of professional truck driving, John maintained a perfect driving record with no accidents and traffic violations. He worked with several transportation trucking companies after receiving his CDL license in 1982. When John’s employer, HG Logistic, LLC., struggled to keep their doors open and pay their employees, John remained loyal when he could have joined any other trucking company because of his outstanding record. He stuck with them until they finally closed their doors in 2014. In less than a week, he had secured a job with Volume Transportation Co. where he worked until his final illness.

In John's earlier years, he served for 3 years as a volunteer fireman for Franklin Blvd Fire Station while also working for Pizza King. He could toss pizza dough high into the air like the real Italian he always thought he was. It was only a few months before his death that a DNA match revealed that his father was indeed Italian and that he had three more sisters.

John enjoyed watching NASCAR with his wife Mary and movies with the kids and grandkids on the weekend. As his children grew older, he enjoyed discussing the movie plots of the movies they watched. He was an avid reader and read many books while on the road with his truck. John Grisham and James Patterson were two of his favorite writers. He used to say that he did not want to read one of those newfangled readers. He would take one to two beach trips a year with the family and a guys-only fishing trip with his best friend, James Wimbley. He always loved pets and had several dogs and cats over the years. Whenever he was asked what was on his mind, he would simply reply, "It’s all good." He lived a simple loving life, even sharing when he really didn't have much. He would often say, "Why spend more when this will do?"

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Ozment Kent; their daughter Stephanie Danielle Atkins, her husband Nathan and their children Katie Lynn Atkins and Daniel John Atkins of Julian, NC; their two sons, Christopher Michael Kent of Greensboro, NC and Keith Aaron Kent of Stoneville, NC. He is also survived by four sisters, Nina Kent Bullock and husband Phil Richards of Madison, AL; Melissa Doyle and husband Thomas of Sewickley, PA; Melody Veltri and husband Steve of Findlay, OH; Lori Mazzie of Pittsburg, PA and two grandchildren, Katie Lynn Atkins and Daniel John Atkins.

A celebration of life for John Calvin Kent is scheduled for May 21, 2022 at 10:00 am, at Shannon Hills Bible Chapel, Greensboro, NC., Pastor Mark Shelley.

The memorial is scheduled also on May 21, 2022 at Hagan Stone Park, HSP Shelter 3, Pleasant Garden North Carolina. We will plan to eat pot luck at 12:00 pm ish in pavilion. Think of memories of John and of times spend with John and we will laugh and love and cry together.

The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.