Ronald Allen Gentry, 65, passed away in his Dallas home March 30.
He was born 10/30/45 to Frances and Melvin Gentry in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Ronnie attended WFHS, later graduating from Burns Flat, Oklahoma, in 1964, and then received his cosmetology license from Bud Hall’s Beauty School. He owned several hair salons in Wichita Falls, the most recent was Hair by Gentry on W. Kell Blvd.
His talents and passions were many. As well as being an artist with hair for 46 years, he bought and restored numerous homes, receiving restoration awards from the Historical Society. Beautiful landscaping was another love, and Ronnie had the knowledge and skills to transform the mundane into spectacular.
He and wife Nancy fulfilled their Caribbean dream when they moved to St. Croix, Virgin Islands, in 2005, where he again opened a hair salon. Ron bought and ran Welcome Hair Care in Gallows Bay. He and Nancy lived at Carambola Villas and then at Coakley Bay Condos. Ron was a member of the St. Croix Yacht Club, and the Country Club in Fredriksted.
After he retired, they moved to Dallas, joined Highland Park Presbyterian Church, and did his last project of restoring their townhome. His love of family was deeply rooted, with Christ as the center of his life.
Ronnie was very special to all who had the opportunity to know him, and his fun, caring spirit will be deeply missed.
Heaven is his home now, an eternity of peace and joy, a place that has already been restored by the Master himself.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Nancy Matlock Gentry; sons: Allen Gentry II, of Seymour, Texas; Hayden Carter III of Pittsburgh, Penn.; daughter, Leigh Anne Nichols of Ovilla, Texas; sister, Sandra Hazelwood of Bowie, Texas; brother, Bobby Joyner Jr. of Wichita Falls; grandchildren: Ben Leibers, Jordan Born, Mickey Gentry, Catherine Elizabeth Nichols, Elizabeth Sellers, Autumn Magill; great-grandchildren: Kimberly, Landyn and Virginia Reidy, and Mavrick Magill.
A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home.