Obituary - George Gibbon Bent, Jr. (1913)

George G. Bent, Jr., 91, of Roanoke, died Monday February 7, 2005. He was born on September 15, 1913 and was a lifelong resident of Roanoke.

He was educated in The Roanoke Public Schools, attending Commerce Street School, Lee Jr. High School and graduating in 1931 from Jefferson High School. He attended Roanoke College for two years. At the age of 12, he joined the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout, plus three "Palms" and earned 78 Merit Badges. He became a home delivery boy for the Roanoke World News at age 13, and continued this work through his high school and college years, as well as during his employment with the Norfolk and Western Railway from 1934 to 1936. In 1936, he was employed by the Times-World Corporation as a Route Manager. After holding several positions with the corporation, he was promoted to Circulation Director in 1962, a position he held till his retirement in 1978 after 40 years of service to the Times-World Corporation. He was a member of the International Circulation Managers Association and the Mid-Atlantic Circulation Managers Association, serving a term as President. He was also a past member of the Roanoke Valley Cotillion Club, Big Lick Kiwanis Club and the Optimist Club of Roanoke, serving a term as President.

Mr. Bent was a member of First Christian Church until 1950, when he became a member of Christ Episcopal Church, where he served one and one half terms as a member of the Vestry.

He was married for 64 years to the former Dorothy Sherman, who died in 1999.

He was also preceded in death by a grandson, David Bates Killinger who died in 2001.

He is survived by his two children, Anne Bent Killinger and husband, Bates of Roanoke, George Robert Bent and wife, Carolyn Leigh Bent of Prattville, Alabama; three granddaughters, Amy Killinger Wilhelm and husband, Jack of Roanoke, Jennifer Bent Davis and husband, Mark of Montgomery, Alabama, Cynthia Killinger Kidwell and husband, Rob of Roanoke; two grandsons, Bradley Killinger and wife, Keisha of Union Hall, and Robert Bent, Montgomery, Alabama. He is also survived by three great-grandsons.

--Roanoke Times, The (VA) - February 10, 2005

Learn more about George on the Pence Family History website:

https://sites.google.com/site/pencefamilyhistory/families/bent/george-gibbon-bent-1913.

Obituary - Dorothy Sherman Bent

BENT, Dorothy Sherman, 83, of Roanoke, died Wednesday, November 17, 1999.

Dorothy was a longtime member of Christ Episcopal Church, where she was involved as a Cub Scout Den Mother, choir mother and many other activities, including the Altar Guild. She was also a member of the Spade and Trowel Garden Club, the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs, Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, the Central Council Roanoke PTA, and was currently a member of the Roanoke Optimist Club.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, George G. Bent, Jr.; a daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Bates Killinger, Roanoke; a son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Carolyn Bent, Prattville, Alabama; her grandchildren, Amy Killinger Wilhelm and her husband, Jack, David Killinger, Bradley Killinger, Cynthia Killinger Kidwell and her husband, Rob, Jennifer Bent Davis and her husband, Mark and Robert Bent; a great-grandson; her brother, William W. Sherman, Roanoke.

Roanoke Times, The (VA) - November 19, 1999

Learn more about Dorothy on the Pence Family History website:

https://sites.google.com/site/pencefamilyhistory/families/sherman/dorothy-sherman.

Photograph - Hostetler, Pence, Pearson, and Smith Families

A photograph taken around 1924 shows the Smith family, including the Hostetler, Pence, and Pearson families. Individuals pictured are Nora Mae Smith Pence, George Corner Pence, Elias Smith Jr., James Rudolph Hostetler, Mary Ann Smith Hostetler, Augusta Florence Smith Pearson, Lydia Ann Boyer Smith, Lawrence Eugene Pence, Georgia Lenora Pence, Harvey Alonzo Pence, Betty May Hostetler, and Dean Eli Pearson.

Photograph is available on the Pence Family History website:

https://sites.google.com/site/pencefamilyhistory/families/smith/nora-mae-smith.

Obituary - Ervin Jasper Smith

Ervin J. Smith

Was born in February, 1885, in the state of Indiana. Previous to coming to Iowa in the spring of 1914 he worked in the coal fields of southern Indiana. After coming to Iowa he worked two year Adam Messer, near Ivester, and for the past three seasons has been farming for himself on the Messer farm.

Besides a wife he leaves four children, Oscar aged 9, Coy, 7, Irene 3, and Troy aged 1 year.

Mr. Smith was taken sick with the Influenza on November 30th and the disease soon developed into double pneumonia and he passed away at five o'clock in the morning of December 9th.

Brief funeral services were held, conducted by Rev. D. W. Shock, of the Ivester church, and interment was in the Ivester cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith, parents of Mr. Smith, came from Indiana to attend the funeral; also Mr. and Mrs. Pence, of southern Illinois, the latter being a sister.

Mrs. Smith has decided to remain on the farm and his parents will remain with her and assist in operating the farm.

Learn more about Ervin on the Pence Family History website:
https://sites.google.com/site/pencefamilyhistory/families/smith/ervin-jasper-smith.