Gentry Wright, 88

Gentry Wright, 88, of Walnut Grove, GA, formerly of Rutherfordton, NC, formerly of Hampstead, NC, finally left this earth to join his wife in Heaven on Tuesday, December 15, 2015.

SSGT Wright was a U.S. Army Veteran of 22 years, and served in three wars; WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, where he served directly under General William Westmoreland in special operations. After retirement from the Army, he settled into a rural lifestyle, farming and raising livestock, and fishing commercially off the coast of NC.

He and wife Kathleen were well into their 50s when they became foster parents, later working with the Broyhill Children's Home Society of NC, where they were highly regarded for their ability to work with emotionally disturbed children. A humble and quiet man with a generous nature, it is difficult to sum up his life in a few short sentences. But anyone who knew Gentry understood that Kathleen was always the center of his life, the one and only love of his life, and, as he always put it, his WWII souvenir from England. Gentry was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Carroll Wright, his infant daughter, Collette, his older brother, Dewey, and his younger brother Winfred.

He is survived by his son, Jim Keith Wright of Hampstead, NC; daughter, Michelle Flannery and husband, John Alderman of Walnut Grove, GA; and daughter, Chantal Parker of Cartersville, GA; three grandchildren. Additional surviving family members include siblings, Fred Wright, B.J. Wright, Mary Cook, Vi Janelle, Daisy Ruel, and Lloyd Wright. Additional surviving extended family include John and Deborah Alderman and their children, Ian, Emily, Isaac, Alexander, and Andrew. A private memorial service was held.

Arrangements were made by Tim Stewart Funeral Home.