H. B. Gentry 1921-2010

GENTRY, MCBRIDE

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 7/9/2010 at 06:47:38

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa June 23, 2010)

GENTRY, H.B., of Garden Grove, Iowa, died on Friday, June 11, 2010 at hospice in Osceola, Iowa. Surviving spouse is Dorothy Gentry, of Garden Grove.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa June 30, 2010)

H. B. GENTRY ... H.B. Gentry, beloved husband and father, passed away on Friday, June 11, 2010. Born January 28, 1921 in Fairfield, Iowa to Horace Burr Gentry and Carrie Mae McBride Gentry. Raised in Fairfield, H.B. attended Parsons College for three years before going into service in World War II. He served in the Pacific theatre. He was assigned to the 233rd Searchlight Battalion during the war.

H.B. returned to Fairfield following the war and graduated from Parsons college in 1947. There he met Dorothy Taggart. They were married in Barhydt Chapel on the campus.

H.B. started his teaching career in Ida Grove, Iowa and taught there for three years. during this time he received his Masters Degree in Music from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The family moved to Bloomfield, Iowa in 1950 where he taught vocal music for 23 years. The department presented numerous musicals and concerts. Enrollment in chorus and glee club sometimes exceeded 100 students.

H.B. Completed course work in Guidance and served in that capacity in Davis County High School for twenty years.

H.B. Was a Master of the Masonic Lodge and was a fifty plus member of Franklin Lodge #14. He served as Rainbow Dad for one year. He was at various times a member of rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions.

He directed a men's chorus in Bloomfield for several years, the Bloomfield Christian Church Choir for 26 years and concurrently the Methodist Church Choir for four years.

H.B. directed the Wapello Chiefs Barbershop Chorus for 30 years. The chorus drew members from a seven county area.

He worked with the Boy Scouts of America as Cub Master and was Director of Boy Scout Camp Wapello for ten years.

He served as Executive Secretary of the Iowa Association of Student Councils for twelve years.

H.B. was honored as a recipient of the Davis County Hall of Fame Award in 2003.

H.B. retired in 1989. After retirement, golf became a interest, playing, as he was known to say "only on those days that ended in "Y".

H.B. and Dorothy enjoyed attending "Elderhostels:" in Nova Scotia, Vernal, Utah, a monastery in Jerome, Idaho, Grants, New Mexico, University of Northern New Mexico in Flagstaff, on Second Mesa with the Hopi and with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood. Considerable miles were logged, because H.B particularly enjoyed driving. There were nineteen Elderhostels with one they were looking forward to scheduled for the spring of 2010.

H.B. leaves his wife, Dorothy and four sons; Gregg (Sue) of Des Moines; Bruce (Teresa) of Garden Grove; Geof of Omaha, NE; and Paul (Marsha) of Aurora, CO. Their family also includes eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

H.B. donated his body to the University of Iowa Research Hospital. A memorial service may be planned at a later date.