Talmage Bassil Gentry

Mr. Talmage Bassil Gentry, 82, of 201 South Florence Street died Sunday, April 4, at his home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Pauls Methodist Church officiated by the Revs. James Caviness and Ken Hall. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Alice Smith Gentry; three sons, Gene Gentry and wife, Elizabeth of Maxton, Woody Gentry and wife, JoAnn of Maxton, Alton Gentry and wife, Robin of Laurel Hill; three brothers, Hansford Gentry of Red Springs, Bill Gentry of Vass, Paul Gentry of Avon Park, FL; four sisters, Juanita Hagler, of Laurinburg, Mary Ann Luttrell of Avon Park, FL, Joyce Gibson of Laurinburg and Rose Alice Robinson of Pinehurst; nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and seven great step-grandchildren. Bassil was preceded in death by a son, Pat Gentry and a brother, Curtis Gentry. Born January 13, 1922 in Person County, he was a son of the late Talmage Woody and Beatrice Strum Gentry. Bassil was a gunner engineer in the B-24 bomber, Marilyn, and flew 50 missions over Germany in World War II. He was injured after his 40th mission and was grounded for 5 weeks. His final 10 missions were served in various positions with the 745th Squadron. On one mission 25 enemy fighters attacked the "Marilyn". Bassil shot down one German ME-109 and the "Marilyn" returned to camp with engine No. 4 disabled. Bassil was a farmer, retiring after 40 years in Scotland and Robeson counties. He was an active member of St. Pauls United Methodist Church where he served as Administrative Board Chairman, a choir member, and a Boy Scout Master. He was also on the Wachovia Bank Board of Trustees and the Maxton ABC Board. www.mcdougald.com