Boyd Gentry

B oyd "Slugger" Gentry passed away March 25, 2025, at age 91.

Boyd was born August 11, 1933, to Alvin and Matie Gentry at Exeter, NE.  Upon graduation from Exeter High School in 1951, Boyd joined the U.S. Air Force and was medically discharged in 1952.  He returned to Nebraska and graduated from Kearney State Teachers College in 1956 then began teaching at Adams Junior High in North Platte.

On January 21, 1956, Boyd married Janice Day of Kearney.  They moved to Corvallis, OR, in September of 1960 so Boyd could pursue his Master of Science Degree then returned to North Platte where he taught Senior High Physics and Chemistry.  In 1963 they went back to Oregon where he taught for two years then returned again to North Platte.  Boyd took a teaching position at North Platte Junior College (which is now Mid Plains Community College) and taught Chemistry from 1965 until retiring in 1993.

Boyd was an avid fisherman and spent many happy years in pursuit of the walleye!

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janice; his parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Boyd is survived by his daughters, Laurie Walrod of Grant and Elaine (Larry) Mardis of Columbus, OH; sons, Dan (Karen) Gentry of Kearney and Stuart (Casey) Gentry of Colorado Springs; grandchildren, Bryan (Kerri) Gentry, Heather (Mike) Douglas, Amanda (Kyle) Bellew, Lauren (Chris) Malaya, Andrea  Alderton, Nicole (Chase) Krotter, Cameron Gentry and Gavin Gentry; great-grandchildren, Brandyn, Bella, Madisyn, Peyton, Tripp, Jeyda, Audie, Meela, Abrams and Oscar; and other family.

Celebration of Boyd's life will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 11, at Messiah Lutheran Church.  Inurnment with military honors will be 1 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery.  The guest book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials are suggested to Messiah Lutheran Church.