Palestine High School Alumni Association

05 / 21 / 1918  –  08 / 25 / 2002

Services for Sloan Gentry, a retired Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pastor, were August 28 in Dallas.

Mr. Gentry, 84, died August 25 of complications of heart disease at Baylor Specialty Hospital in Dallas.  Mr. Gentry’s 62 years of ministry service included roles as pastor at East Dallas Christian Church and Oak Cliff Christian Church.  “His strength was preaching, pastoring to people and evangelism,” said his daughter, Elaine Gentry Tibbetts of Rockwall.

During his time as senior minister of East Dallas Christian Church from 1965 to 1975, more than 1,600 members joined, his daughter said. He then served as pastor at Oak Cliff Christian Church until his retirement in 1981. More than 200 people joined the congregation during his first year at the church, his daughter said. “Wherever he went, people joined the church after he finished preaching,” Mrs. Tibbetts said.

Mr. Gentry, who was preceded in death by three children and his wife, was often called by area funeral homes to officiate at services. He performed more than 6,000 funerals. “He was tireless. … He was always giving to others,” Mrs. Tibbetts said.

Mr. Gentry grew up in Palestine, Texas, and earned two bachelor’s degrees from Texas Christian University. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from the university in 1954.

He got his first job as a pastor at 19 while he was a sophomore at TCU. He served in Grapeland, Mineola, Sulphur Springs and Longview before coming to Dallas.

After his retirement in 1981, Mr. Gentry became a transitional minister at churches in Longview, Wylie and Kaufman. He retired again in 1999.

Mr. Gentry was president of the Oak Cliff Ministers’ Association and chaplain of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce and Sun Oil Co. He was a 32nd degree Mason.

He traveled to Europe, the Caribbean and the Far East leading Christian tours and revivals.

Mr. Gentry is also survived by a son, Paul Sloan Gentry of Coventry, R.I.; three granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter.

Memorials may be made to the David Gentry Memorial Ministerial Scholarship at Texas Christian University or to the Juliette Fowler Homes, 200 S. Fulton St., Dallas, Tx 75214.

Source: Dallas Morning News 09-10-2002

Lewis Sloan Gentry was born May 21, 1918 in Grapeland, and died August 25, 2002 in Dallas. Burial was at Restland Memorial Park, Dallas. He was the son of Lewis and Lillie Hall Gentry.

He married Ada Helen Read March 12, 1939. There were five children born in this marriage.

He was preceded in death by his parents; children Gloria Gentry, Lewis Sloan Gentry Jr. and David Lewis Gentry.

Source: Descendants of Thomas Howard Anderson