Donald "Don" Christy Gentry, formerly of Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away on Monday, January 8, 2024 in Fredericksburg, Texas. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on January 26, 1940; a son to the late Merrit Logan and Emmalou (Reed) Gentry.

Dr. Gentry attended Rountree Elementary in Springfield, MO from 1945-1952; Jarrett High from 1951-1955; Central High from 1955-1956; then graduated from Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO from 1956-1957; he did his undergrad at Drury University in Springfield, MO, and his grad work at Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated in 1964. He served in the U.S Army Reserve and National Guard from 1957-1964, then he was a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corp from 1964-1966.

He became a pilot in 1966 and flew privately for most of his life.

He practiced dentistry in Lebanon, MO, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and Jefferson City, MO before opening Innovators, Inc., where he invented and developed numerous dental and medical instruments that are still used in offices all over the world today.

In 1963, he was married to Deitra "Dea Dea" Gee of Hannibal, Missouri, whom he met at Washington University in St. Louis. He had his only daughter, Dr. Gina Loudon in 1968 and she survives with her husband of 33 years, Senator John Loudon (Ret. R-MO), and her five children (his grandchildren), Lyda Lindsey Loudon, Elizabeth "Lily" Love Loudon, John William "Jack" Loudon Jr., Samuel Christian Loudon and Robert Brewster "Bo" Loudon, all of Palm Beach, Florida.

He was Mr. Missouri in 1960 at age 20, and then again in 1980 at age 40 in that age bracket.

He loved doing water and snow sports with those he loved, and he mastered his barefoot deep water take off in 1990.  He also loved diving, kiteboarding and windsurfing. He lost a friend to kiteboarding so he invented a device to save that from happening to others that is still used today.  He took many trips with his daughter to ski in Colorado with JC Ski Club and was a talented snow skier and boarder. He loved to rappel and mountain climb.  He never stopped challenging himself and others to do their best and be their best.

He married Judith Peters after meeting her at BJ's Gym in Jefferson City, MO in 1981, and he has surviving step-children Kathryn Peters Englund of St. Louis, MO, Suesanne Peters Craven of Kansas City, Thomas Peters of Tulsa, OK, and Michael Peters of Jefferson City.

During the 1980s he traveled to Guatemala on medical missions to perform surgeries on children born with cranial facial abnormalities.

He was married to Cynthia Jeanne Anderson of Missouri  from 1987 until her death in 2014. Together, they moved to North Padre Island, TX on the water, where he competed and won numerous water sport medals and trophies, while doing philanthropic dentistry in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

On September 30th, 2016, he married Lynn Hinkle Gentry of Fredericksburg, Texas who survives him in the home. He is survived by step-children Cheri Harvieux of Nashville, TN, Julie Starry her husband, Billy of Mathis, TX; Jennifer Hinkle, of Louisville, KY. During his time in Texas he won numerous water sports medals and trophies and set records in his age bracket. He won the Paddle for Parkinson's Competition in 2015.

He is also survived by step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren.

He was passionate about politics, philanthropy, participating in water and snow sports, fitness, health, philosophy and physics, pursuing God, and saving humanity.

He learned later in life that he was adopted, and he met and loved his half siblings, some who also survive today.

He chose to be baptized in Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, for the second time as an adult, just one week before his untimely death.

A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens, where Dr. Gentry will receive full military honors.