Floyd L Gentry

I remember many things, but one of my favorite was his kisses on my forehead. Miss you grandpa!!!!

Floyd Lewis Gentry lived long enough to see the dawn of a new century. He lived long enough to share sixty years with the woman he loved. Long enough to see all of his four children into adulthood. The birth of seven grandchildren and two great-children. Our Dad and Grandfather’s life spanned over eight decades. So much of our Dad’s character was formed in the magnificent Smoky Mountains. He was born in Erwin, Tennessee in 1926. In his hometown, the best compliment that can be paid a person is to simply say that they are “Just Good People”. That was what my father bought from his heritage. Our father and grandfather was truly a good person. Our Dad always carried the lesson he learned as a young boy in Unicoi County in his heart, in his mind, and in his actions. He remained until his dying day “just a Good Person”. Honest. True to his wife and his family. A man with a quick smile. A man who always had a good story. And above all, a man who was hard working. Floyd Lewis Gentry was the only and much loved child of his parents Goldie and Fred. Until the day he died, his childhood memories were very sweet. His memories of playing in the hills of Erwin, Tennessee. Growing up with his cousins The Masters. He loved his one cousin Bill as though he were his brother. He moved to Akron as a young man and soon volunteered to serve his country in World War II. He joined the US Air Force and I think that might have been where his love of travel begin. He served on a transport carrier and traveled from one coast to the other. Right after the war, he met our Mom, Francesca (nee LiCause). He always said that (for him) it was love at first sight. It must have been. Because, it was a love that lasted through six decades. As the years past, he worked harder and harder to give his growing family all he could provide. Always placing his families needs above his own. .His eldest daughter, Annette, was born in 1948. She is a retired Registered Nurse and married to Danny Tomlinson. Danny is a Canadian. They live in Ft. Myers, Fla. during the winter and in Canada during the summer. Annette has two children, Shane (Robb) and Ryann (Wallace). Ryann is married and gave Dad two great- grandchildren, Makenzi and Olivia. His daughter, Christine, followed in four years. She lives in Tallmadge during the summer and Lake Tahoe through the winter. Chris is married to Bryan. They have two children, Erick and Kelly Carter. Erick is married gave Dad two great- grandchildren, Katherine and Warner. His only son, Mark , was born in 1960. The day Mark was born, Dad burst which such pride that he went shopping himself for blue baby booties. He finally had his son and he was going to come home from the hospital wearing something blue. Mark proved to be a wonderful son. He helped our Dad maintain his lifestyle until the day he passed. Mark lives in Akron with his wife, Carla. They have three children, Tanesa, Matthew, and Melissa. Dad’s youngest child followed in six years. Heidi was Dad’s baby. She is married to Rick and resides in of Graham, N.C. They have a son Cameron. Make no mistake, to the end of his days all of you were a part of his life. All of us mattered and all of us were loved. When we were children, Dad took each of us to work with him. I think he wanted us to see and understand why he was gone such long hours. He woke us early in the morning and we drove to Wonder Bread. There we watched him help load the truck before we left. It seemed we drove for hours with the smell of warm bread all around us. Eventually we stopped for the first delivery. Dad simply left bread outside the door and moved on. This continued for several stops. Following the same routine. Leaving fresh bread outside a locked door. Finally, we stopped. Why? Because FINALLY it was daylight. His stores were FINALLY opened. For you see, my father had already worked hours before the sun rose. Before the rest of the world was even awake. That was my Dad. A man that worked hard. All of his life and still managed to enjoy the simple pleasure of a log fire in his side yard. He is sorely missed.