Ethel Finlayson Dent

Ethel Finlayson Dent passed away on July 10, 2012 in Asheville, NC. She was the devoted wife of Charles M. Dent Jr. for 67 years. She was born January 22, 1922 in Greenwood, South Carolina to the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Finlayson of Greenwood, SC. She was married August 24, 1945, to Lt. Charles M. Dent, Jr. after his receiving his commission and pilot wings. After Charles completed military service, they began their private life with Charles getting his degree in Civil Engineering at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. After graduation, Charles, Ethel and their baby daughter moved to Frankfort, KY where Charles had accepted a job with the State Highway Department in Bridge Design. They later settled in Asheville, NC on October 1, 1951 with Charles joining the Engineering Department with the American Enka Company. They joined First Baptist Church, Asheville in October, 1951 and became very active. Mrs. Dent chaired the Mission Hospital Care Group for 20 years, along with being a devoted mother and housewife. In addition she became involved in the First Baptist Church with various committees and taught Sunday School for 44 years for the 3rd grade children. This became her Christian joy and calling. As years passed, and these children grew into adulthood, she became a mentor to many of them and received cards and letters thanking her for her love and guidance in their lives, which she cherished dearly. Additionally, she chaired the Christian Care Group which engaged in visiting church patients each week at Mission Hospital. She was active in the community as a volunteer in the hospital for more than 20 years, helping patients with their personal needs. She was a member of the Asheville Junior Women's Civic Club that provided special care for local women in need. She is survived by her husband of sixty-seven years, and three children, Beverly Jean Pennell and husband, Clark W. Pennell, Jr. of Bald Head Island, NC, Charles Bruce Dent of Los Angeles, CA, and Deborah Dent Klutz and husband, Ken Klutz of Orlando, FL; 4 grandchildren, Joseph Dobner and wife, Susan of Kirkland, WA, Betsy C. Nesbitt and husband, Curtis, Laura K. Antunano and husband, Miguel of Hollywood, FL, and Katie Klutz of Tallahassee, FL; five great-grandchildren, Mary Grace, Luke, Maggie, and Ian Nesbitt of Asheville, NC, and Audrey Dobner of Kirkland, WA; and one sister, Mrs. Richard Hunt of Aiken, SC. There will be a private burial for the family at Green Hills Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 14, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Asheville. Her family will greet friends at a reception in the dining hall after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Children's Fund at 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801, the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center, PO Box 255338, Asheville, NC 28813, or to a children's charity of your choice. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family. "A hundred years from now it will not matter what your bank account was, the sort of house you lived in or the kind of car you drove. But, the world may be different because you were important in the life of a child".