Dallas Lee Kent, 80, of Naperville, died Thursday, May 14, 2020, due to complications from diabetes.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date in Wheatland Township Cemetery in Naperville. Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home and Crematory in Naperville is assisting the family.
Mr. Kent was born March 11, 1940, in Morrisonville at home on the family farm, to Darrell and Ethyl (Himstedt) Kent. He married Jean Woolley on Aug. 29, 1964, at Wesley Methodist Church in Urbana, and she survives.
An active member of 4-H, he was a member of the Future Farmers of America. Following his graduation from Morrisonville Community High School in a class of 22 students, he attended University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a B.S. in electrical engineering. He later earned an M.S. in electrical engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology.
He and his wife resided in Chicago for eight years before moving to Evanston for the next 37 years. His career over the years included a position at Zenith Radio Corporation, where he was awarded two patents: the Stewart-Warner and Multigraphics. Additionally, while employed at General American Research Division, he was responsible for testing prototypes of the U.S. Postal Service’s zip mail sorters.
A member and deacon of First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, he was a longtime volunteer church bus driver, where he transported members to worship services who were residing at the Presbyterian Homes. He was a member of the Church’s International Friends.
He and his wife served as a homestay family for various international graduate students at Northwestern University. He was a faithful blood donor to LifeSource, donating over three gallons of blood during his lifetime.
At the time of his death, he was residing at an active-55 community in Naperville. He celebrated his 80th birthday with his wife and friends on the day the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in times with pain, he loved to sing, do word search puzzles and tell people he was feeling fantastic.
In addition to his sweetheart of 55 years, he is survived by his sons, Burton of Chicago and Clinton of Lexington, KY; daughter, Dorene (Salvador) Munoz of Plymouth, MN; grandchildren, Brady Kent, Andres, Adrian and Zara Munoz; brother, Robert (Mary) Kent; several nieces and nephews; and his longtime caregiver, Margarita Munoz.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stillborn brother, Donald, and his sister, Carol Douglass.
Memorials may be made to Wheatland Salem Church, 1852 9th St., Naperville, IL 60564 or Loaves and Fishes, 1871 High Grove Ln., Naperville, IL 60540.
Online condolences may be left at www.beidelmankunschfh.com.
