Leon Jennings Gentry, most recently of Greensboro, NC, died at the age of 82 on Monday night, November 28, 2022.
A funeral service will be held at 2:30 PM on Sunday, December 4th, at Kallam Grove Christian Church in Madison with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday evening, December 3, 2022 from 5 – 7 PM, at Colonial Funeral Home in Madison.
Leon was born February 7, 1940 in Rockingham County, NC to the late Howell Oscar Gentry, Sr. and Nora McCollum Gentry. He grew up the youngest of six siblings, learning to work hard on the family’s tobacco farm in the Bethany community of Rockingham County.
In 1958, Leon married the love of his life, Rachel, shortly before graduating high school. They both worked hard to save money so Leon could attend NC State University and earn a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduating, Leon began his career at IBM and was a successful sales manager, earning multiple Golden Circle Awards. In 1990 he retired after 25 years at IBM to start another 20 year career pursuing his passion of technology and photography working with several start up technology companies.
After retiring for the second time, Leon began his final, least lucrative, but most rewarding career: advocating for his community.
In 2000, the Bethany community started a campaign to open a school closer to home for their students. Leon quickly joined the effort and became one of the founding members of a new charter middle school, Bethany Community Middle School. With the help of Leon’s dedication, direction and leadership the school thrived and expanded. He lead the effort to build a multi million dollar campus that now serves the community’s middle and high school students.
In 2018, he humbly accepted the Long Leaf Pine Award and an honor bestowed when the school dedicated their gym the “Leon Gentry Gymnasium” in his honor.
Leon and his wife, Rachel, instilled into their family a strong work ethic, dedicated to family values and steadfast faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rachel Lee Gentry; daughters, Pam Ranson (Brian) and Amy Matthews, both of Greensboro; five granddaughters, Gentry Ranson, Davis Ranson, Ellis Matthews, Hannah Matthews and Grace Matthews; brother, Roger Gentry (Elaine) of Madison; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters and one brother, Dorothy Hall, Elizabeth Chrismon, Alice Gentry and Howell Oscar Gentry, Jr.
If you would like to make a memorial donation, the family asks that you consider
Bethany Community School Foundation
1288 Hudson Road
Summerfield, NC 27358. Note the donation to be designated for the Leon Gentry Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Or to Kallam Grove Christian Church, 1390 Gold Hill Road, Madison, NC 27025
Colonial Funeral Home & Chapel in Madison is serving the family.
Online condolences may be offered at www.colonialfh.net
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