Byron Gentry

Byron Gentry, 95, of Morganton, NC died Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 at his residence. Born April 22, 1917 in Wilkes County, NC, he was a son of the late Claude Byron Gentry and Hattie Hawkins Gentry. Byron was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Morganton, and a life member of the Morganton Elks Lodge 1852. He was a retired employee of Henredon Furniture.Byron is survived by a daughter, DeEtta Gentry of Morganton; grandchildren, Elizabeth Fauber, Susan Prince, Jennifer Helms, Andrea Gentry, and Chris Gentry; ten great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Delores Gentry; a sister, Joanna Tutterow of Greensboro, NC; three nephews; and five nieces.In addition to his parents, Byron was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth "Dugan" Gentry; a son, William Byron Gentry; grandson, Bobby R. Hovis III; three sisters and one brother.Graveside services will be held at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, December 6, 2012 at Forest Hill Cemetery with Rev. Michael Costner and the Rev. Dr. John Fowler officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690.