Kent W. Gillespie

Kent Woodruff Gillespie died on August 18, 2018 in Slidell, LA. He was born at Mercy Hospital, Hamilton, OH on October 20, 1928 to Marjorie and Huber Gillespie and grew up on a farm near McGonagall, OH. He was the husband of his beloved Charlotte A. Gillespie. They were happily married for 60 years at the time of Charlotte's death on Feb. 6, 2011 and have three children: Michael (and wife Nancy Wolf) of Glide, OR; Bruce (and wife Sherry) of Naches, WA; Susan Cantrell (and husband Mark) of Pearl River, LA. In addition there are grandchildren Adam Cook (and wife Traci) of Portland, OR, Abby Gillespie of Roseburg, OR, Jennifer and Joseph Cantrell of Pearl River, LA and great-grandson Indiana Cook of Portland, OR. Kent graduated from Hanover public school, Hamilton, OH and college at Miami University in Oxford, OH with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics and Aeronautics. His Grandfather Sam Woodruff attended Miami and mother, wife and three children also graduated from Miami. He was employed at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH for 36 years of dedicated work with a team of medical and engineering personnel on the development and testing of personal high altitude protective equipment for aircrew members of high performance aircraft.

He was an active member of the Vandalia United Methodist Church, the Troupers Sunday School Class and Vandalia Lions Club for over 50 years. Donations may be sent to Vandalia United Methodist Church or the Vandalia Lions Club. Funeral services will be held Friday August 24 at 1:00pm at The Vandalia United Methodist Church 200 S. Dixie Dr. Vandalia with Rev. Mike Malcosky officiating. Burial will follow at Poplar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Arrangements entrusted to Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home.