Cecil Calvin Gentry Jr.

Dr. Cecil Calvin Gentry Jr., age 79, passed away Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, in Bartlesville in the company of his family. He was born Oct. 8, 1936 in Memphis, Tenn. to Cecil Calvin and Mary Curtis Gentry. Cecil attended schools at Carrie Stern Elementary in Greenville, Miss. and Forrest City (Ark.) High School, near his hometown of Haynes, Ark. While a student at Forrest City High School, he was selected to serve as a U. S. Congressional Floor Page in the 82nd Congress, by Hon. E. C. "Took" Gathings, 1st District Arkansas. He graduated from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville with BSIE (1961) and MSME (1964). He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1972. Cecil and Miriam Jean Rogers were married in Lansing, Kan., on Valentine's Day, 1961. Cecil is survived by his wife of 54 years, two devoted sons, who are also his best friends, Matthew Calvin Gentry, P.E., his wife Jeanette Marie, and grandchildren Scott Matthew and Stephanie Marie Gentry of Katy, Texas; and Mark Cecil Gentry, Ph.D., his wife Amy Kristine, grandchildren Katherine Kristine, William Mark, and Lauren Elizabeth Gentry of The Woodlands, Texas. Other survivors include younger brothers, Edward Cloy Gentry of Rogers, Ark., and Don Curtis Gentry of Auburn, Ala., and several nieces and nephews. His parents and an infant brother, Earl Columbus Gentry, preceded him in death. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in Oklahoma and spent the last 28 years of his working career at Phillips Petroleum Company, retiring as Manager, Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics. Cecil was a member of honorary fraternities including Sigma Xi, Pi Tau Sigma, and Alpha Pi Mu and professional organizations, including Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Heat Transfer Research Inc. (HTRI) from 1985-98. In 1986, he received the OSPE Outstanding Engineer in Oklahoma award. Cecil held over 50 U.S. and foreign patents and authored 11 technical publications. Following retirement, Cecil and Jeanie traveled internationally enjoying activities such as snorkeling, hot air ballooning, and white water rafting. He was a World War II history buff and a devoted Razorback fan. Cecil served with pride in the U. S. Navy from 1954-57, as a Radarman, aboard the USS Morgan County (LST 1048) and USS Dunn County (LST 742), as part of the U. S. 7th Pacific Fleet. In 1955, he participated in underwater nuclear test, Operation Wigwam. During the summer of 1956, he participated in Operation Dew Line, north of the Arctic Circle. A brief memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday Nov. 8, 2015, in the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church of Bartlesville. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be made to the charity of your choice.