Miriam Gentry Obituary

MIRIAM ANN GENTRY
August 4, 1934
April 11, 2021

Miriam Ann Gentry, 86, of O'Fallon, Ill., passed away Sunday, April 11, 2021 in her home.
Miriam was born August 4, 1934 in Topeka, Kans. to Joseph G. and Zella (nee Wilson) Youngkamp. She was married September 3, 1955 to Jack C. Gentry in Topeka, Kans.
Mrs. Gentry graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washburn University of Topeka, Kans. She completed a year of training to become a registered Medical Technologist. While at Washburn she was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and was selected for membership in Tau Delta Pi, an honorary scholastic fraternity. She accompanied her husband to many Air Force assignments throughout the United States and Germany.
She moved to Monument, Colo. in 1986 and was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church. She was a member of the Colorado Springs Alumnae chapter of Delta Gamma, the Pikes Peak Neighbors, and the Academy Spouses' Club. She enjoyed volunteering for many years at the Air Force Academy Thrift Shop.
Miriam and Jack moved to O'Fallon in 2007 and became members of St. Nicholas Parish. Miriam was active in the Scott Air Force Base Spouses' Club and the Retired Officers' Spouses Group. After Jack's death, she was active in the Scott Air Force Base Widow's Support Group. With a close group of friends, she regularly attended exercise classes at the YMCA, followed by coffee at Hardee's. She was a member of the Washburn University Alumnae Association.
Miriam loved life and lived it to the fullest. She traveled widely, watched sports passionately, enjoyed dessert frequently, and loved her family deeply.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Joseph E. Youngkamp, and her grandson, Joseph Gentry Richardson.
She is survived by her two daughters, Marcia Richardson and her husband Tom of New Braunfels, Texas, and Gail Daniels and her husband John of Lawrence, Kans.; her son, Daniel Gentry and his wife Leigh Anne of O'Fallon, Ill.; her six grandchildren, Andrew (Rachel) Richardson, Emily (Mark Rogers) Richardson, Grace Daniels, Eleanor (Ben Langston) Daniels, Laura (Jesse) Van Divier, and Jack (Addi Guskey) Gentry; and her seven great-grandchildren, Atleigh, James, Lexee, Megan, Zenlie, Lachlyn, and Phoebe.
Memorial donations may be made to Foundation Fighting Blindness, 6925 Oakland Mills Rd., #701, Columbia, MD 21045 or Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., 2121 K Street NW, Ste. 200, Washington, DC 20037. Post a memory of Miriam or sign the guestbook at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Visitation: The family will welcome friends from 6 - 8 pm, Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 am, Thursday, April 15, 2021, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 625 St. Nicholas Dr., O'Fallon, with Msgr. William J. Hitpas presiding. The family will greet friends one hour prior to Mass. A private family Graveside service will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.