Levester “Pee-Wee” Gentry, Sr. was bom in Gonzales County Texas October 3, 1938 to Lucille M. Wilson and Clarence E. Ketchum, Sr. He was raised by his grandmother (Mattie Brown) and great- grandmother (Ella Graves).
Pee-Wee moved to San Antonio with his first wife, Rosemary McKinney Gentry, and family in 1962, and shortly afterwards began working for the Roeglein Meat Company until their doors were closed in 1981. A man unafraid of hard work and a master of many trades, he worked for several other companies until he began working for the City of San Antonio Airport from where he retired in 2000 after 16 years of employment while working his own lawn care service business until he had to retire from that too due to his illness. Pee-Wee was a good listener who rarely complained about much (if at all) and was always willing to help out anyone whenever and however he could. With the signature toothpick in his mouth, charming pearly white smile, quirky sense of humor (“You funny”), and infectious laugh; no one he met was ever a stranger to him. Pee-Wee lived his life to the fullest and enjoyed family and friends, music and dancing, playing dominoes, cards, pool and other games, and good food. He will surely be missed by all who knew him.
Pee-Wee was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, one son-Levester Gentry, II, one grandson-James A. Jones II, one great-grandson-Xavier Tyson Edwards, and second wife-Katherine “Kathy” Gentry, five sisters-Lillie Ann Ketchum Porter, Thelma Jean Wilson, Leslie Wilson, Christine Wilson, and Nellie Wilson; four brothers-Milton Brown, George Wilson, Jr, Eddie Wilson, and Preston L. Wilson, and a host of other relatives.
Pee-Wee leaves to cherish his memory, four daughters - Shirley Gant, Kathy Berkley, Lucille Knoch (Rick), and Shaquana Brown; three sons - James Murray, Charles D. Murray, and Levester Gentry, Jr.; three sisters Katherine El-Amin (Hanee), Erma Jones, and Cynthia Holloway, all of San Antonio, Texas and four brothers - John W. Williams (Modestyne) of AZ, Charles Ketchum (Joyce) of MD, Clarence Edward Ketchum, Jr. of Houston, Texas, and Tony Ketchum of San Antonio, Texas. 20 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and special friend Brenda Hunter and family.
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