Richard P. Kent, III

Goldsboro – Lt. Col. (Retired) Richard P. Kent III, 62, of 1506 Darby Place, died Thursday at the UNC Hospital at Chapel Hill.

A native of Freeport, NY, he was the son of the late Richard P. Kent, Jr. and Dorothy Tirrell Kent and was married to Geraldine Exum Kent who preceded him in death in November, 2003. Lt. Col. Kent retired from the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot. While serving his country, he was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon. Following his retirement, Lt. Col. Kent served as an F-15E Flight instructor for Boeing Aerospace Operations.

Lt. Col. Kent was a member of the Order of the Daedalians, the First Flight Society at Kitty Hawk and the Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society. He was an Episcopalian.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church with Rev. Eugene Carpenter presiding. Burial will follow at Willow Dale Cemetery with full military honors.

Lt. Col. Kent is survived by his daughters, Laura Exum Kent and husband, Clay B. Yeates of Wilmington and Katherine Kent Hopper of Greenville; his son, Richard P. Kent IV of Austin, TX; his son-in-law, Chadwick I. Hopper of Greenville; his grandchildren, Christian M. Hopper, Nicholas S. Hopper, Harrison T. Hopper, Marlee S. Yeates and Lucy K. Yeates; and his sisters, Nancy Wertz, Joan Irwin and Dorry Bockelman, all of New York.

The family will receive friends Monday, April 26, 2004 at Seymour Funeral Home from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. and other times at his residence.