Kent Eastman, 82, went to be with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on May 12, 2019. He was born on December 11, 1936 in Binghamton, NY to Harold and Dorothy Eastman. He moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1948, where he met the Chilson family, eventually marrying Cassie Chilson in November 1959.
While raising 5 children with Cassie, he attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, and graduated with a Master's Degree in Bible Studies. They returned to Phoenix and he became a successful painting contractor, focusing mainly in Sun City, AZ, in the winters. Summers were spent in Upstate NY, and Great Bend, PA, where he was a steeple-jack and painter there. What a wonderful and fun opportunity for their children....perfect weather year-round and double the friends! So many incredible memories were made! Kent was always very active in the churches they attended and worked for a time at Heart to Heart Bible Church in Phoenix. He had many hobbies and volunteered his time freely. He stayed very active right up until the very last day. There wasn't a person he ever met that he wouldn't help, in whatever way possible. He was truly an amazing man! Kent volunteered many hours a week for years at various sporting events and at Northwest Christian School. He greatly enjoyed attending sporting events for numerous young people and supporting them in their dreams. Kent never missed an opportunity to meet, talk to, and really get to know every single person with whom he came into contact. People say that they felt like they had just met their new best friend in the world. He honestly enjoyed helping others and making them feel special and important. Kent was preceded in death by his parents, Harold & Dorothy, brother, Harold Eastman, sister Marilyn Sellars, and sister, Cindi Willing. He is survived by his brother, Richard (Joan) Eastman in NY, sister Phyllis Keefer in Ohio, and a great number of nieces and nephews. His ex-wife and friend, Cassie Stephenson, 5 children - Mark (Diane) Eastman, Shari (Tim) Kissling, Troy (Susan) Eastman, Karen Bac (Mitch), and Brent Eastman. And 6 grandchildren - Ashley (Adam) Coffee, Wyatt Kissling, Justin Eastman, Trevor Eastman, Bailee Bac (Weston Votaw), and Logan Bac. And 1 great-granddaughter, Ellie Coffee, who was the light of his life recently. Kent also has a number of "bonus" grandchildren, who deeply enriched his life. He left behind a legacy of love, faith, character, caring, encouragement, volunteering, and helping as many people daily as he possibly could. What a wonderful testimony of God's love for us! While we celebrate that he is in Heaven, we miss him greatly and he has left a huge void in this world.
Funeral services will be held at Happy Valley Baptist Church, 24220 N 43rd Avenue, Glendale AZ 85310, on Sunday, May 19. Viewing will be at 1:00pm, followed by the service at 1:30pm.
