Russel E. Gentz Date of Death-Jan. 31, 2017 B. Ruth Gentz Date of Death-Jan. 3, 2017

     Russel E. Gentz, age 77, and B. Ruth Gentz, age 75, formerly of Monticello, Iowa, passed away on Jan. 31, 2017 and Jan. 3, 2017, respectively, in South Carolina.

     Funeral services were held at Dillard’s Memorial Funeral Home located in Pickens, S.C., and honored for their military service to the United States Marine Corps.

     Russ was born in Delhi, Iowa and Ruth was born in Enoree, S.C. Russ and Ruth met while in California during their military service. They were married on March 17, 1961.

     Russ was self-employed as a general contractor and carpenter his entire career. He built homes, schools, churches, retail offices, etc. in varies cities in both Iowa and South Carolina.

     Ruth was a retired electronics technician from Rockwell International (formerly Collins Radio) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ruth continued her career at companies Ryobi Electronics and Reliable in Pickens county South Carolina.

     Russ and Ruth are survived by daughters Rae Bates (Dale) and Rhonda Hamlin (Randell) both of Liberty, S.C. They are also survived by their grandsons Lucas Bates and Samuel Bates. Russ is also survived by his siblings Raymond Gentz (Washington), Harold Gentz (Wisconsin), Sharon Bowers (Nebraska), Marlene Knott (California), Karen Stroud (Missouri) and Elaine Sprosty (Wisconsin). Both Russ and Ruth are also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and close family friends.

     Russ is preceded in death by his father and mother, Raymond Gentz and Dorothy Simons-Gentz, and siblings Tom Gentz, Loren (Skip) Gentz, Herbert Gentz, Vanita Wegemann and Brenda Gentz. Ruth is preceded in death by her father and mother, Thomas Edwards and Ollie Ellison-Edwards, and siblings, Jack Edwards, Robert Edwards and Bobbie Nell Jackson.