Roy Gentry

Roy Charles Gentry

August 10, 1935 December 1, 2013

Charles Gentry, 78, passed away on December 1, 2013 at a local care facility.

Roy Charles Gentry was born on a farm near Dexter, New Mexico on August 10, 1935, to Roy and Neva Gentry. He married Gerry DeSmith Hardy on June 25, 1994 in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Charles graduated high school in Roswell, New Mexico in 1952 and New Mexico Military Institute in 1956. While attending NMMI, Charles was elected AllConference in football for four years as well as winning the State Golden Gloves boxing heavyweight title. He was inducted into the NMMI Hall of Fame in 1986.

Upon graduation, he entered the Army Corps of Engineers. During active duty he flew Army fixed and rotary wing aircraft with four overseas assignments in Germany, Libya, Iran and Vietnam. Charles was medically discharged in 1966 as the result of wounds sustained when his helicopter was shot down in Vietnam. During his military service, he received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and numerous Air Medals.

Charles graduated top student at Texas Tech School of Law in 1969 and served as a trustee of the Texas Tech Law Foundation. Before entering private law practice in Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Austin, he served as Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, Special Assistant to the Attorney General as a White House Fellow, legal advisor to the National League of Families of POWs and MIAs in Vietnam, and Director of the Clean Lakes Program at the newly created Environmental Protection Agency. In 1992 he returned to Washington, D.C. as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Pete Domenici. Upon public service retirement, he consulted in Washington, D.C. on public policy issues related to science and nuclear weapons.

After retirement, he and Gerry logged thousands of miles in overseas travel, as well as domestic adventures in their RV. Their home was a log cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In 2005, they moved to Tierra Linda Ranch in Kerrville.

Those left to cherish and honor Charles memory are his wife, Gerry Gentry of Kerrville son, Geoffrey Gentry of San Antonio daughter, Cheryl Estrada and husband Noel of Lubbock sister, Nancy Nalda grandchildren, Maranda Buchanan, Jacob Estrada, Leahnna Estrada, and Ryan Gentry nephew, Scott Nalda along with many neighbors and friends.

A Celebration of Charles life will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, January 4, 2014 in the Main Chapel of Kerrville Funeral Home, 1221 Junction Highway, Kerrville, TX 78028 with a reception following.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, Kerrville Humane Society or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home. 830 8955111

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