Kimble County, TX - Obituaries:  Gentry, Lt. Wilbur, 1942
Wednesday, August 2, 2000

Submitted by:  burtwyat@ctesc.net  (Frederica Wyatt)
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 Found in the scrapbook belonging to the late Margaret Griffen Harrison, Junction, Texas
                                  (Name of paper not given)

                      LT. WILBUR GENTRY IS BURIED IN JUNCTION CEMETERY

                           American Legion Is In Charge of Services

  Lieut. Wilbur Gentry, was killed near Alvarado, California, January 2, 1942, when a
fast army pursuit plane he was flying at a low altitude went into a spin and on hitting
the ground burst into flames.  The body was shipped to Junction, arriving early Friday
morning, January 8, and lay in state at the American Legion Hut until Saturday afternoon
when it was carried to the Community Hall at London, where funeral services were held by
Rev. Louis Pearl of London.  The remains were given a military burial under the direction
of the Bert Fleming American Legion Post of Junction.  The Schreiner-Hodges Funeral Home
was in charge of funeral arrangements. 
  The following members of the American Legion were active pall bearers:
  Rudolph Becker, Lewis Coleman, Walter Buck, A. W. Browning, Dick Weaver and L. A. Ivy.
  The firing squad was composed of Jim Carpenter, John Reynolds, Fred Cox, Ray Holland,
  Carl Nelms, and Walter Savage.
  Color bearers were Henry Barker and Carroll Collier.
  Color guards were L. R. Hodges and Roy Gilliam.
  Bugler, Kittrell Durst.
  Commander, B. B. Ragland.
  John Wilbur Gentry, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Gentry was born in London, November 16, 1916.
The family moved to Junction several years ago and Wilbur, known as Prude to his school mates,
was graduated from the Junction High School in 1936.  He then attended the Schreiner Institute
from which he was graduated in 1939.  Later he attended the University of New Mexico and
lacked only a few months resident study of finishing his work for a degree when he entered
the U. S. Air Service.  He received his wings and commission as a lieutenant on December 12,
in ceremonies at Luke Field, Arizona.  He had been stationed at Hamilton Field, California, 
after receiving his commission.
  He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Gentry, three brothers, Floyd and Wilson,
of San Antonio, and Lawrence of Junction, and other relatives.
  Wilbur was an outstanding football player throughout his high school and university days.
He was a star on the Junction High School team, was named to the all-state junior team at
Schreiner, and captain of the all-conference 1940 team at the University of New Mexico.  
He was one of the most popular and best liked players on the team.
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