Robert W. Kent

Robert W. Kent

AGE: 79 • Chester Township

Robert W. Kent passed away at home after a short illness on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. He was 79. Born in Oceanside NY to the late Meredith and Ruth (Warren) Kent, he lived in Middletown Ohio for many years before moving to Chester in 1986.

He attended Rockville NY schools, South Side High School '53, Princeton University '57, Woodrow Wilson School (cum laude) Harvard University '60 where he received his J. D. degree. Mr. Kent was an attorney at Breed, Abbott & Morgan from 1960-1967, and for ARMCO Steel Corp. in Ohio, and its affiliates, as their corporate attorney, corporate vice president, secretary and general counsel between 1967 and 1993.

Among his professional activities were memberships to the American Law Institute; American Bar Association, Ohio and New York Bar Association. He was also involved with the Boy Scouts of America since 1946, received the Silver Beaver and the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award; was former Council President of Mound Builders Council (Ohio); was a present member of the Board of Trustees of Patriots Path Council (NJ); past president and member of the Executive Committee of Community Soup Kitchen of Morris County and a recipient of its Caritas Award in 1998; NJ Conservation Foundation trustee; a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church for over 28 years; active summer parishioner at St. Peter's at the Light, and past chairman of Ohio Manufacturer's Association.

Survivors include his wife, the former Valerie Lyle (DeVeuve); his children Robert W. Kent Jr. and his wife Marian, of Oak Park, Ill, William M. Kent and his wife Karen, of Wyoming, Richard M. Kent and his wife Mary of Mason, OH, and Deborah Jeffries and her husband Jack of Clinton, NJ; his step-children Keith A. Lyle and his wifeRoshanak of Ramsey, NJ, Dr. Brian Lyle and his wife Catherine of Boulder, CO, and Heather Webster and her husband Christopher of Chester, NJ; his grandchildren Alex, Joseph, Daniel and Maria, Sarah, Matthew, Lauren and Ian Kent, Katie Jeffries; his step-grandchildren Evan and Dana Webster, Carson, Delia, Gavin and Chase Lyle. He was predeceased by his first wife Sally Anne Macnair.

Arrangements are by the Bailey Funeral Home, 176 Main Street, Peapack, NJ 07977 www.baileyfuneral.com.

A memorial service will be celebrated at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 182 Main Street Gladstone, NJ. Services will be on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015 at 11:00 AM with the Rev. Kent Walley and Canon John Morrow (Rector Emeritus) officiating.

Memorial donations are requested by the family in lieu of flowers to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Bamboo Brook, 170 Longview Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931, or to the Class of '57 Classmates Fund, c/o Sheppard Davis, 401 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 1002, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.