Charles Wesley ”Wes” Kent, 77, of Mountain View, Arkansas, died April 23, 2024, in his hunting cabin at Fifty-Six, Arkansas.
Wes was born in San Diego, California, to Rubert Kent and Dollie (Plaster) Kent while his father was stationed there in the Navy.
He was a Christian, having made his profession of faith while a high school student at Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas where he graduated in 1964. He attended Arkansas State University for two years before transferring to Ouachita Baptist University where he graduated in 1968.
He became a Baptist Preacher during his last year of college. During his lifetime he served as a Minister in Southern Baptist churches in Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, and New Jersey. From 1979 through 1984 he worked in the Evangelism Department at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. After moving to Texas and completing his master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1986, he became a full-time evangelist. He preached at more than two hundred churches during his evangelistic ministry before returning to serving in local churches.
He loved to share the good news about God’s love all over the world. He joined other Christians on mission trips to Mexico, Brazil, and Guatemala. In 1991, Wes organized a folk music band from Arkansas to participate in an international mission trip with the Kazak American Joint Venture during glasnost and perestroika.
Wes retired from full-time ministry in 2008 to spend more time in volunteer work. He was a leader of first responders for Baptist Disaster Relief. One of his first assignments with Disaster Relief was in New York City for the September 11th disaster. He led teams of volunteers to build churches each summer with Birmingham Builders for Christ and with Constructors for Christ.
His retirement dreams included hunting and wildlife management. He spent time each week on his hunting land where he trapped feral hogs that he then butchered to share with families who needed the meat. He held eight triple trophy badges from the state of Arkansas for his proficiency in deer hunting.
He loved old-time mountain music. He played banjo, guitar, and mandolin and performed regularly with friends at the Ozark Folk Center State Park and at the Pulaski Rackensack Society.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 56 years, Judy (Philliber) Kent; two children: Jodi Green of Deptford, New Jersey and Samuel and his wife Heather Kent of Helena, Alabama; grandchildren: Zack Spencer, Cole Spencer, Azure Spencer, Andrew Kent, Topher Kent, and Xander Kent; his sister, Winona (Kent) Emmons of Dundee, Mississippi; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Wes was preceded in death by his parents, Rubert and Dollie (Plaster) Kent of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and his niece, Ann Adams of Amory, Mississippi.
A celebration of Wes’s life will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2024, with visitation beginning at 2:00 p.m. and service at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Mountain View. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Music Roots program at Committee of 100, PO Box 2111, Mtn View, AR 72560; or Samaritan’s Purse at samaratainspurse.org.
