He was a faithful, loving husband to Linda and devoted father to Dena and Jim, a beloved brother to Celia (Johnson) and Diane (Bailey), a loving Grandfather to Justin, Joshua, Mei Ling (Linda) from Dena and Lee Alimuddin; and James, Jacob, and Rachel from Sandee and Jim Gentry. He enjoyed doting watchfully over 9 Great Grandchildren.
Jim was born on March 21, 1936 in Memphis, TN to Lucille (Britt) Gentry and Alier Luther (AL) Gentry. At a young age his parents moved to Charleston, SC where he grew up tinkering with electronics and audio. Jim studied at Georgia Tech University and graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University, SC.
Jim married his beloved Linda Ailene (Gressette) Gentry in 1960. He enjoyed a happy, loving life with her for 60 years until he lost Linda to Alzheimer’s on April 2, 2020 .
Jim worked for Westinghouse and then RCA in which he won several awards for microcomputer logic design, radar antenna design, and analog phased array beam steering controllers for signal processing systems. His work with the Department of Defense took him and his family to diverse locations such as Suffolk county in England for 18 months and Kwajalein, in the Marshall Islands for 3+years.
Jim was a strong, passionate leader in his faith and love for Jesus Christ. He believed in the resurrection hope of Christ and told others about the Kingdom of God. He was a longstanding member of First Baptist Church in Charleston, SC and then moved to Delaware Valley Baptist Church in Willingboro, NJ where he became a head deacon. Later, Jim moved his family again to join Emmanuel Baptist church in Evesham, NJ. Upon retiring, he moved back to Charleston, SC to his roots at First Baptist Church. Finally, Jim found a home and settled in Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church in Tampa, FL. Everywhere Jim found himself serving the Lord as a deacon, and sound recording technician.
A funeral memorial service was held on Friday, April 9, 2021 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-Carrollwood in Tampa, FL.
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