Kent Fleming Brendle Sr. of Boonville passed away Saturday July 24, 2010, at his home after a lengthy illness.

He was born June 21, 1931, to Dolphus Monroe and Mattie Lee Fleming Brendle in Elkin. He graduated from Boonville High School and High Point College (1954) where he majored in history, served as vice president of the student body, president of McCulloch Hall, and vice president of Delta Alpha Epsilon. He also attended Wake Forest University, the Institute of Government at University of North Carolina, and participated in the Experimental Farm Production program at N.C. State University. 

He married Pattie Lee Gunter in 1953. They were married for 51 years before she passed away in 2005.

Mr. Brendle was employed by the N.C. Employment Security Commission as a labor analyst for Forsyth and Stokes Counties before accepting a position with the Yadkin County Board of Education as a teacher at Fall Creek Elementary School. In 1970, he joined the staff of Surry Community College as Adult Continuing Education Extension Coordinator, serving first in Boonville and then in Mt. Airy until his retirement in 1988. He enjoyed teaching and coaching and seemed to never forget any of his students.

He was a member of Boonville Baptist Church and was very active in their Relay for Life team. He was a past president of the Boonville Lions Club and Yadkin County Chapter of North Carolina Association of Educators.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

He is survived by three children: Kent F. and wife Pam Brendle, Jr. of Boonville, Michael R. and wife Leanne Brendle of Boonville, and Eva Patricia B. and husband Joey Riddle of Winston-Salem; four grandchildren: Joseph C. Riddle Jr. of El Paso, Texas; Sharon E. Riddle of Valdosta, Ga.; Paxton F. Brendle and Greysen M. Brendle of Boonville. He is also survived by a sister Janie Lee B. and husband Bill Pinnix of Winston-Salem.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to his friends for their support. And thanks to the in home caregivers, the nurses and staff of Mountain Valley Hospice and Hugh Chatham Nursing Center and Hospital.

The family will received friends at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at Boonville Baptist Church conducted by Reverend Ken Boaz and Reverend Jack Gentry. The body will lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow at Boonville Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to Boonville Baptist Church Capital Campaign Building Fund P.O. Box 429 Boonville, NC 27011, or to Mountain Valley Hospice P.O. Box 1267 Yadkinville, NC 27055. 

Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is serving the Brendle family.

Online condolences can be made at www.gentryfuneralservice.com.