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Classmate Curtis Gentry passed away June 24, 2018 at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Born July 5, 1943 in Idabel, Oklahoma to C. W. and Ruby L. Gentry. He grew up in Topeka and graduated from THS in 1961. After high school he earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Detroit Institute of Technology, where he later served as a Director. He also served as a Professor at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky as well Probation Officer in Tampa Florida. He is survived by wife of 46 years, Helen Gentry, a daughter in KC and son in Topeka. Memorial service is scheduled June 30, 11:00 AM, New Mount Zion Baptist Church, Topeka. See the entire obit and recent picture of Curtis on Thatcher’s Funeral Home, Inc. website
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Elisha Bernard Hurd
I became acquainted with Curtis when we began attending Monroe Elementary school as "kindergarteners". That was a special class. Not only was Linda Brown in our class, but because of our classmate (and many others), segregation would end in 1954. Our class would not experience the benefits of the desegregation effort because we were headed to Junior Highs which were not segregated in Topeka. Curtis lived nearby and on many days we would meet in the area of 4th & Quincy and ride the bus that would take us to Monroe. We would later walk to East Topeka with other students who lived in our area. We were on the football team at East Topeka. I don't recall seeing Curtis often at Topeka High. It was such a large school with so many students. After a time at Washburn, Curtis was on his way to Michigan to continue school. We were both part of that group identified as "The Bottoms". In the last years of his life, I was able to keep track of him through one of his sisters. Sadly, he had some serious medical challenges in the last two years of his life. Ralph Chisholm and Robert Warren also maintained some contact with Curtis in his last days.