"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." Philemon 1:25

Rev. Larry Gentry was born January 14, 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He departed this earthly life on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Larry's parents, Mary and Lindsey Gentry, only sibling, Barbra Jean Gentry Pitts, and loving niece, Angela Gentry preceded him in death.

Educated in the Cincinnati Public School System, Larry, a "song stylist", turned famous rhythm & blues and soulful gospel lyrics into audacious vocals.  With little effort, he could amaze diverse audiences by making widely known melodies seem to have been written just for him.  Singing in nightclubs across the deep South and Northeast, Larry was a member of the well-known American funk band the Ohio Players, and the popular local group, The Students.   He was self-employed in transportation for many years. Larry was also employed with Towne Taxi in Cincinnati.

Larry accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Walnut Hills.  Later, he moved his membership to St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church where he was a devoted tenor and soloist of the mass choir for over 35 years.  Larry became an ordained Minister and assumed an active role in the church.

On August 17, 1991, Larry was united in holy matrimony to the former Linda E. Cooley-Johnson.  In addition to his wife, Larry leaves to cherish his memory:  his loving children, Timonthy (Jackie) Gentry; Tammy Gentry; Terrance (Nikki) Gentry; Mark (Crystal) Baker; Johnny (Vinie) Baker; Michael Baker; Shantrell (Jay) Collier; Dana (Nessie) Johnson; and Telisha Chistua; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Ronald (Marilyn Lavender) Cooley, Thomas Cooley, George (Angela) Cooley, Danny (Hattie) Cooley, Carolyn (James, Sr.) Terrell, and Janice (William) Goolsby; his 18 grandchildren; his 2 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends. Larry's sister-in-law, Lekeda Cooley also predeceased him.

Visitation is from 9:00 am until 10:00 am, on  Saturday, March 2, 2019, at the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 2365 Compton Road, Cincinnati  (45231).   The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation beginning at 10:00 am.

Interment will follow at Landmark Memorial Gardens.

To share a memory of Larry  or leave a special message for the Gentry family, please click the "Tribute Wall" tab above and to the right, enter the information, and click "Save Post."

Walker Funeral Home, 7272 Hamilton Avenue, Mt. Healthy (45231)  is serving the  Gentry family.  Please call (513) 251-6200 or visit www.WalkerFuneralHome.com for additional information.