Ruth Gentry

Funeral services for Mrs. Ida Ruth Gentry, age 87, of Cookeville, will be held Wednesday September 12 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery. Bro. Clarence Deloach, Bro. Jeremiah Tatum, and Dewight Stamps will officiate. Mrs. Gentry's family will receive friends Tuesday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Ruth passed away Sunday September 9, 2018 in Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was born Thursday April 30, 1931 in Jackson County, Tennessee to the late Killis and Ida Grace Lynn Rawley. After her mother's early death, she was raised by a special uncle and aunt, Dow and Martha Lynn Loftis. In February 1948, she married Freeman Gentry. They had been married 56 years when he passed away in July 2004. She was a long-time (60 years) member of Willow Avenue Church of Christ. She was an associate of Washington Manufacturing Company (Cookeville Shirt Company) for 30 years and later retired from the Oster Corporation with 13 years of service. Ruth is survived by her daughter, Shirley Stamps and husband Dewight; two grandchildren, Tyler Stamps and wife, Serita; Lynne Frantz, and husband Dan; six great-grandchildren, Avery, Tanner, and Ryder Stamps, Dalton, Dylan, and Lily Frantz; and many special friends including, Jean Pennington Nichols and Martha Gentry Smith Ruth was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was known for her kindness and encouragement to others who knew her. She was lovingly known as "Mama Ruth" by her family and her many friends, who were like family to her. She made the world nicer and a better place by being in it. Mrs. Gentry's family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Bethesda Health Care Center and Cookeville Regional Medical Center for the care rendered to Ruth. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931) 526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.