Dr. Sloan Gentry

GENTRY, DR. SLOAN (LEWIS SLOAN), devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, nephew, pastor, and friend went home to the waiting arms of his Lord and Savior on August 25, 2002. Born in Grapeland, Texas, May 21, 1918, son of Lillie Mae and L. S. Gentry, Sloan was reared in Palestine, Texas, attending and graduating from the schools of that city. Sloan graduated from Texas Christian University receiving his BA degree in 1939. He graduated from Brite College of the Bible at T.C.U. receiving his BD degree in 1945. He received one of the highest honors from T.C.U. when he received the Doctor of Divinity degree in 1954. He attended special studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Sloan married Ada Helen Read, daughter of Reverend and Mrs. O. J. Read, on March 12, 1939. This union was blessed with five children: Gloria, Lewis, Paul, Elaine, and David. Sloan was preceded in death by his beloved wife, his parents, brother, Alton Gentry, sister, Clarabelle Henry, and children, Lewis, David, and Gloria. He is survived by his remaining children, son, Paul Sloan Gentry, daughter-in-law, Mary Gentry, of Coventry, Rhode Island, his daughter, Elaine Gentry Tibbetts, son-in-law, Jerrold Tibbetts, of Rockwall, Texas; granddaughters, Laurie Watson Davis of Red Oak, Texas, Sherry Watson Blessing and husband, Kevin Blessing, of Cleburne, Texas, Stefani Applegate Riker and husband, Rob Riker, of Dallas, Texas; great-grand daughter Emily Elizabeth Blessing; nephews Charles Henry and Jerry Gentry, as well as his precious friend and constant companion, Laddie.He appreciated and loved nature, making the world more beautiful by planting trees wherever he lived most notably at his Bearwood Estate on Bear Creek in Red Oak where he has resided for many years. He was very passionate about America, his home state of Texas, the T.C.U. Horned Frogs, and Dallas Cowboys. Dr. Gentry's extraordinary ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) spanned an amazing 62 years beginning with his first pastorate at the age of 19 in Alto, Texas, while a sophomore at T.C.U. He held subsequent pastorates in Grapeland, Mineola, and Sulphur Springs. For sixteen years he ministered to the First Christian Church in Longview and Peatown, Texas, followed by pastorates at the First Christian Church of Tulsa, East Dallas Christian Church and Oak Cliff Christian Church of Dallas. He retired from the active pastorate, January 1, 1981, only to come out of retirement and serve interim pastorates for another 18 years at Founders Christian Church in Longview, First Christian Church in Wylie, and First Christian Church in Kaufman, from where he finally retired Minister Emeritus in 1999. Dr. Gentry's emphasis during his ministries was on evangelism and pastoring to his church members. The First Christian Church of Longview led all other congregations in the brotherhood in the state in the number of baptisms from 1959-1960. During his first year of ministry at the First Christian Church of Tulsa, more than 400 new members were added to the membership which gave the Tulsa church a leading position in evangelism in the brotherhood. During the Tulsa ministry, there were more than a thousand new members added to the church, an average of almost one a day through his years there. During his ten years of ministry at East Dallas Christian, more than 1600 new members came into the church. During his first year at Oak Cliff Christian, there were more than 200 additions to the church. It was said by those that knew him, no one could preach a funeral service better than Sloan Gentry. The incredible losses of three children and his wife allowed him to be his best when he was serving his flock in their greatest hour of need.In his ministry, he conducted more than 6,000 funerals. During his lifetime, Dr. Gentry was a 32 Degree Mason, active in the YMCA, Community Chest, Kiwanis Club, President of the Oak Cliff Ministers' Association, Chaplin of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Chaplain for Sun Oil Company, and unofficially in the capacity of chaplain for leading funeral homes in the Dallas area. During his ministry, he was active in the city, district, state, and international work of the brotherhood of the Disciples of Christ. He traveled extensively in Europe, the Holy Land, the Caribbean, and the Far East often leading tours and holding revivals. Sloan Gentry was to all who knew him, one of God's greatest works - a winged gem like a butterfly. He lived his life with the belief "that if God can do this with a caterpillar, think what He can do with me." He lived his life with the faith that surpasses all understanding believing wholeheartedly "that if the resurrection isn't true, nothing matters; if it is true, nothing else matters." To paraphrase Bessie Anderson Stanley's definition of success written in 1904, Sloan Gentry "achieved success because he lived well, laughed often and loved much...he filled his niche and accomplished his task; left the world better than he found it, never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it; looked for the best in others and gave them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction." A Thanksgiving service of celebration of Dr. Sloan Gentry's life and homecoming to his Jesus Christ and eternal Savior will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28, at East Dallas Christian Church, 629 North Peak Street, Dallas. Dr. Don McKenzie, Rev. Rex Humphreys, Dr. Syd Carnes, Rev. Mike Kearns, and Rev. Rick Lynn officiating. Interment to follow at Restland Memorial Park. Reception to follow interment at Restland Abbey Chapel. Visitation with family and friends will be at Restland Funeral Home Tuesday, August 27, 2002, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the David Gentry Memorial Scholarship Fund at T.C.U. or Juliette Fowler Home, 200 South Fulton Street, Dallas, Texas 75214, or charities of your choice. Well done, thy good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Matthew 25:21 Restland Funeral Home Cemetery Crematory Mausoleum Rembrandt Florist 9220 Restland Rd. Dallas 972-238-7111 www.restlandfuneralhome.com