William Don Dent, 80
December 11, 1943 – October 1, 2024
SALTILLO – William Don Dent (1943-2024), 80, died peacefully at his home in Saltillo, MS early Tuesday morning, Oct. 1, 2024, following a courageous and lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. Don was born in Jonesboro, Ark. on Dec. 11, 1943.
He is survived by his beautiful wife of 54 years, Susie Mary Evelyn Williams Dent; daughters, Wendy (Ricky) Pate of Tupelo, MS, Alison Dent of Saltillo, MS, and Alissa (Kenny) Jackson of Saltillo, MS; sisters, Mary Nell (Elmo) Mayhan of Jonesboro, AR, and Nancy (Danny) Flemon of Valley View, AR; grandchildren, Mackenzie Pate and Lee Pate of Tupelo, MS, and Will Jackson and Kate Jackson of Saltillo, MS. He most recently welcomed his first great-grandson Beckham Blankenship. He leaves behind many nieces and nephews, Pets Party and Bodhi who doted on him. His parents Paul Biggs Dent and Ruby McKay Dent Goodon and brothers Scotty Goodon and Paul Lewis “Hoot” Dent preceded him in death.
Don loved his family very deeply and was very proud of each one of them. Don was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He lost his father at the age of 18 months and growing up was difficult financially. Those tough times taught him strength and humility. Don attended Jonesboro High School, but left school early at 17 to join the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in Germany 1964-67, received accolades and was honorably discharged in 1967. Using the GI-Bill, he attended and graduated from Arkansas State University with BA in Business. He went on to attend LSU and received his Masters in Business and Banking.
Don loved to read books, play golf, and watch Razorbacks sports and Cardinals baseball. He enjoyed listening to music and singing it loudly. Don strived hard to be honest, hard-working, smart, kind and humorous man. He was a member of the Natchez Trace Golf Club where he got his first and only hole-in-one, an extremely proud moment in his life. Don worked as a F.D.I.C Bank Examiner for over 30 years. He traveled all over the United States examining banking institutions and times when he spent weeks working abroad in territories such as Guam and Micronesia. In his banking career, he received many service awards. In 1996, Don and Susie moved to San Francisco, CA for Don’s work and returned to Mississippi in 1999. Don was a trusted leader and was President of Alcorn Bank, President of the local National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and President of the Natchez Trace Villas Homeowners Association. Don was a member of William Grey Chapter of Mississippi Sons of the American Revolution.
He traveled the United States extensively as well as the world. Don and Susie took cruise vacations when they could and enjoyed traveling with good friends. As a gift from their children for Don and Susie’s love of travel and history, Don and Susie became Lord and Lady of their small plot of land in Ireland. Don will forever be loved and missed. He is in Glorious paradise now watching over us.
A Time of Celebrating Don’s life will be held at 3 PM Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 from the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Bro. David Smith officiating. Visitation will be from 1 PM-service time on Friday only at Holland-Tupelo Chapel. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Live-streaming at 3 PM Friday, and will be archived thereafter. A graveside service will take place on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 in the Dent family plot at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Bono, Arkansas.
Honorary pallbearers are Ricky Pate, Kenny Jackson, Will Jackson, Lee Pate, D.W. Hopkins, and David Tallant.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, 5969 Cattleridge Blvd., Suite 10-D, Sarasota, Fla, 34232, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in Don’s memory.
Condolence’s may be posted on his obit site-hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Obits.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
