Mr. Virgil E. Gentry

Virgil Edwin Gentry was born on February 13, 1918, in Carden, Ok. His father was the town barber, and his mother was the keeper of a busy brood of seven. In 1926, the family boarded a Chevy Essex and headed to the "promise land" of California. Cousins living in Selma brought the family to Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley.

Virgil attended Emerson Grammar School and Roosevelt High School where he was a star baseball player. In his teenage years, Virgil helped support his family with a string of jobs from filling station attendant at Chinquapin in Yosemite, to Roma Winery in Fresno, to summers in the Conservation Corp. repairing roads to bridges and camp sites in the National Parks.

In 1940, Virgil proposed to Mary DeLiddo and the girl said, "yes". She would remain his devoted and beloved wife always by his side for the next 72 years. The blending of these two families brought the constant company of brothers and sisters of holidays and celebrations. Three children would be born to Virgil and Mary, two sons and one daughter. Early in the marriage, Virgil would get his first big "dream job". In 1942, he was hired by Pacific Bell and Bell Telephone Company with good pay ($18.00 a week) and secure benefits. Stringing lines and trouble shooting earned him a vital communications specialist deferment from World War II.

After 36 years with the Telephone Company, retirement meant Virgil could now turn his full time attention to his land investment business which he successfully built and managed over the next three and a half decades.

Blessed with movie star good looks, a keen sense of humor and an innate ability for story telling, Virgil was a natural at being a grandfather.

He was known as "Grandy" to his four beloved grandsons and he filled their lives with humor, antics and laughter. In March of 2012, his first precious great-grandson Kaito was born.

Virgil was a life long learner. In his later years, he took voice training and became proficient at singing. He lent his tenor voice to the Sunday choir at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and the Catholic Diocese of Fresno Bishop's Choir. Virgil took guitar lessons and ballroom dancing where he and Mary would dance the night away.

Needing quicker information on investments, Virgil learned to master the computer and at age 85, he attic wired and installed his own personal computer.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, you are our hero and in our hearts forever.

The family remembers and acknowledges with deepest thanks the love, courage and tender support given by Mona Lyn and Lorilei Batoon, Dad's "angel" caregivers.

Virgil is preceded in death by his infant son, Philip.

He is survived by Mary, his devoted and beloved wife; his son, Roger Gentry; daughter, Rosella Gentry-George and her husband Stan; his grandsons, Jeremy Gentry-George, Noah Gentry-George and his wife Yu, Gabriel Gentry-George, and Cameron Gentry; his great-grandson, Kaito George; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home, on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul Newman Center, on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.