Patricia Gentry

Patricia Ann Gentry died on January 26, 2026, at her son's home in Loma Linda, California, however was born at the dawn of the Great Depression on March 2, 1934 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was the older sister of Daniel Gentry and daughter of Joseph "Pat" Gentry and his wife Beulah. Growing up, she especially enjoyed her animals which included many dogs and even a pet duck, HeeWee. Her favorite dog was a terrier mix named Teddy. She excelled in school and found time to participate in music, playing flute. Her involvement in the citywide Jacksonville Youth Orchestra was the key to meeting her future husband, Robert Gentry, also of Jacksonville, who played clarinet in the same orchestra. This was fortuitous, as Robert attended Lee and Patricia attended Landen High Schools and likely would have not met except for their musical connection. After dating in high school, they both attended the University of Florida at Gainesville. During the first semester final exam week, they decided to elope to Nahunta, Georgia. At 2 am on January 20, 1953, Robert and Patricia joined together in a marriage that would ultimately produce 3 children and last 67 years to the time of Robert's death on January 28, 2020. After getting married, Patricia dropped out of college to support Robert as he finished college with a degree in Physics in 1956. She followed her husband's career as he moved to Fort Worth, Orlando, Gainesville, Walla Walla (Washington state), Tacoma Park (Maryland), and finally to Knoxville, Tennessee where she spent nearly 50 years of her life, raising her children and supporting Robert's scientific career offering valuable assistance as a book and manuscript editor. Except for brief trips to Canada, she never left the United States. In her later years, Robert provided care for her at home as she developed memory loss. In 2019, she moved with Robert from Tennessee to her son, David's home in California, where she would live the final years of her life, reading letters, attending church and going on numerous travel excursions to San Diego. She attended the memorial service of her brother Dan when she was 89 years old, traveling back to Orlando for the final time. In July, 2025, she attended the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in St. Louis with the assistance of David. She is survived by her children, Patricia (Todd), Michael (Joanne) and David. Her grandchildren from daughter, Patricia are Laurel Ann, William (Natalie), Melissa and Janelle (Eric). And grandchildren from son, Michael are Vance, Preston and Cole.