Harold Dent

Harold Robert Dent, 90, of Decatur, IL, died Friday, June 19, 2015. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, with visitation one hour prior to services. Burial will be at Friends Creek Cemetery, Argenta, IL. Memorials have been suggested to: First United Methodist Church. Harold's final days were joyful ones, spent working on projects, laughing, reliving memories, and making plans with his four children. Harold was born on a grain and dairy farm near Cisco on August 9, 1924, to Robert J. Dent and Eleanor (Archer) Dent. He joined the U.S. Army in February 1944. He trained in electronics and machine guns and served as a radio operator on bombers of the U.S. Army Air Corps in the South Pacific. He had graduated from Argenta High School in 1942 and married his high school sweetheart, Florence Marie Rowe, on June 25, 1944, while on a weekend leave from the Army. After his discharge on May 10, 1946, they moved to Decatur, where he began a long career in the electrical wholesale business, retiring in 1987 as operations manager at Englewood Electrical Supply Company. A life-long car lover, he later worked part-time for many years at the Decatur Auto Auction. Harold and Florence started a family in 1947 and welcomed their fourth child in 1957. In the 1950s, the couple managed to take the family on several summer vacations to a pink house on Shawano Lake in northern Wisconsin as well as to Mammouth Cave and other destinations. Harold served as a coach of his son's Monroe Cardinals little league team. Since the 1950s, Harold was active in First United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher and office volunteer. He was also an active lifetime member of Sertoma, setting up frozen yogurt stands at Decatur Celebration, among other activities, and remaining a top seller of the Decatur club's Christmas poinsettias and spring flowers. Harold suffered a hip fracture, a bout of pneumonia, and a heart blockage in recent years, but after receiving two heart stints in 2013, he was strong and lively with twinkling eyes, a ready smile, and a quick wit, especially with his kids and his every-growing family. He was adjusting to the loss of the love of his life, Florence, in 2007, but his home and his heart remained filled with pictures and other reminders of her. Harold is survived by his children: Gregory L. Dent of Tulsa, OK, Richard W. Dent and wife Gail of Tuscon, AZ, Carolyn L. Kresse and husband James F. of Decatur, IL, Leanne R. Dent of Springfield, IL; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; sister Judith Bartley of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; nieces Mary Lou Holmer and husband Mark of Argenta, IL, Norma Jo Davidson and husband Doug of Decatur, IL, and Sue Ellen Smith and husband Kim of Argenta, IL. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, wife and brother Phillip Archer. "
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