Charles Martin Dent, Jr.

Charles Martin Dent, Jr., of Asheville, NC, passed away peacefully at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center on January 2, 2017. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Charles Martin Dent, Sr. and Nell Hill Dent on August 18, 1924. He was married for 67 years to the love of his life, Ethel Finlayson Dent, who preceded him in death in 2012. Charlie was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, serving as a Flight Officer in WWII, from 1945 to 1946 before being honorably discharged. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1948 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. He was employed briefly by the Department of Highways for the state of Kentucky before his employment in 1951 as a civil engineer with American Enka Corporation in Asheville, NC. He retired from there in 1990. For 4 years in the 1960s, he briefly left Enka to serve the city of Asheville as Executive Director of the Asheville Redevelopment Commission. Much of the modernization of downtown Asheville began during his tenure at the Commission. Charlie was recognized for his expertise and significant contribution as a Board Member of the Buncombe County Metropolitan Sewerage District Board from 1974 until 1995. Charlie was a Fellow and Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Most important to Charlie was his faith and his family. He and his wife Ethel raised three children together, and he was a Life Deacon and faithfully served on many committees at First Baptist Church, Asheville. Charlie is survived by his children: Beverly Jean Pennell (Clark) of Asheville, NC; Charles Bruce Dent and partner, John King, of Los Angeles, CA; Debbie Dent Klutz (Ken) of Orlando, FL; four grandchildren: Joseph J. Dobner (Susan) of Kirkland, WA; Betsy C. Nesbitt (Curtis) of Asheville, NC; Laura K. Antunano (Miguel) of Hollywood, FL; and Katie E. Klutz (Katie Bradley) of Tallahassee, FL; and nine great-grandchildren. He is survived by one brother, Eugene H. Dent of Louisville, KY. A private burial will be held for the family at Green Hills Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Chapel, First Baptist Church, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC. The family will greet friends in the Chapel following the Celebration. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Louise Brown for her dedicated care of Charlie over the past year as well as caregivers, Kathleen and Angela, of the HomeInstead organization. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of the following: First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St., Asheville, NC 28801; Memory Care, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC 28803; or The John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center, 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.