Elbert Wilkinson Lent

A loving and devoted son, father, and husband, Bert Lent passed away on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, at age 100. He was born in Orange, N.J., on Dec. 2, 1909, and had been a resident of Baton Rouge since 1950. Bert started his career with Prudential Insurance at its home office in Newark, N.J., and soon thereafter transferred to the New York City agency. In 1950, he came to Baton Rouge and opened the Ordinary Agencies office. He worked with Pilot Life Insurance Co. and then became agency manager, director of agencies and vice president of United Companies Life Insurance. He later joined the agency staff of Lincoln National Life Insurance. He was an independent agent until he retired in 1998 at age 90. Bert was a chartered life underwriter (CLU), a member of the Baton Rouge Chapter and past president of the Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, as well as the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the Estate and Business Planning Council. He was also a registered representative in the securities field. He had been a member for more than 50 years of the First United Methodist Church, where he taught several adult Sunday school classes and was a member of the Good News Sunday school class. Through the church, he was a volunteer at the Christian Outreach Center, Holy Grill, Friends of Families and the Care Team. He is survived by a daughter, Camille Dian Johnston and husband Dr. Carroll William Johnston, of Clearwater, Fla.; a son, Elbert Wilkinson Lent Jr. and wife ReLeah, of Morganton, Ga.; a stepson, John Sanford Smith and wife Corliss; stepdaughter, Sharon Musy and husband Philip, of Baton Rouge; two granddaughters, Paula Fernandez and Julie Lindsay; two grandsons, Charles and Jason Lent; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles Wilkinson and Harriet Augusta Lent; a brother, two sisters; first wife, Camille Perry Lent; and second wife, Omamai Sanford Lent. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visiting continues at First United Methodist Church on Monday, Dec. 7, from 1:30 p.m. until a memorial service at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, Hospice, or the charity of choice. The family wishes to thank Joyce Slaughter for her loving care of Bert Lent during the past several years.