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: