Hansford Gentry

LAURINBURG - Hansford Gentry, 88, went to his heavenly home on Saturday morning, Dec. 17, 2011. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, in Trinity United Methodist Church in Red Springs, officiated by the Rev. William Gentry. Burial will follow in Philadelphus Presbyterian Church cemetery. He is survived by a son, Peyton Gentry (Martha) of West End; three daughters, Carol Barber (John) of Charlotte, Susan Gentry Gaston of Marco Island, Fla., and Janis Bracey (Gordon) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; a brother, Billy Gentry of Vass; three sisters, Mary Ann Luttrell (Bob) of Avon Park, Fla., Joyce Gibson of Laurinburg and Rose Alice Robinson of Greensboro; 15 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren. Mr. Gentry was born April 17, 1923, in Person County, to the late Talmage Woody and Beatrice Strum Gentry. The family moved to Robeson County in the early 1930s and moved to the Snead's Grove area of Scotland County in the late 1940s. Hansford was farm manager for Sinclair Corp. until his retirement in 1990. Prior to his retirement, he and his wife, Mildred, returned to Red Springs where they remained until moving to Scotia Village in 2007. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in Europe and Africa. He enjoyed quail hunting, fishing, and in later years golf, but he enjoyed all athletics. He and his late wife also enjoyed ballroom and square dancing. One of the true highlights of his life was spending time with his family. Hansford formerly served on the Laurel Hill School Board and was an active member of Snead's Grove United Methodist Church and later Trinity United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Snead's Grove United Methodist Church, 12800 Old Wire Road, Laurinburg, NC 28352, or Trinity United Methodist Church, 204 E. Third Ave., Red Springs, NC 28377. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at McDougald Funeral Home and Crematorium in Laurinburg.