Marilyn J. (Hunkins) Gentry

Marilyn Jeanne (Hunkins) Gentry, 81, passed away peacefully at home in Littleton, CO, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013.  Marilyn was born in Falls City to Lyle and Mildred Hunkins on Oct. 29, 1931.

She graduated from Kramer High School in Columbus in 1949. Upon completion of high school, she attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she played in the marching band and was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority, and met her future husband. She graduated in 1953.  She married Richard (Dick) Gentry on Aug. 22, 1954 in Columbus. The couple moved frequently while Dick completed his medical training with stops in Omaha, San Bernardino, CA, and Fort Lee, VA, until finally settling in Falls City to raise their four children. In 1978, they moved to Blair. Marilyn moved to Littleton in 2012 to be close to her daughter, Susan.

With each move, Marilyn quickly made friends and was an active member of the United Methodist Church. Marilyn was involved in most areas of the church over the years from teaching Bible school, performing in choirs, to serving in leadership roles, including Treasurer of the Women’s Society, and serving on both the District and Annual Conference Council on Ministries. Additionally, she served on the Board of Trustees of Nebraska Wesleyan University for a year, the Board of Trustees of Blair’s Crowell Home for six years, the last two of which were as president of the Board, and the Blair Park Board of which she was president for a number of years.

A longtime member of Blair’s Horticultural Society, she enjoyed flowers and vegetable gardening. Her friends will remember her passion for duplicate bridge. She avidly read articles on how to play better and earned Life Master Status with the American Contract Bridge League.

She worked with the Camp Fire Girls in which her daughters were active.

She is survived by her brothers, Wayne Hunkins (Vana), of Beverly Hills, CA, and Gene Hunkins, of Newcastle, WY; daughter, Susan Hahn (Rick), of Centennial, CO; son, Tedd Gentry (Lois), of Decorah, IA; son, David Gentry (Jani) of Lincoln; daughter, Carol Burns (Paul), of Sanford, MI; 11 grandchildren.  

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Dick Gentry.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013 at the Gering Memorial Chapel, with internment at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Another service will be held Friday, Oct. 18, 2013 at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Denver. The family would like to thank the staff at Sunrise for the loving care they provided to Marilyn. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Blair.