Harry V. Kent, Jr.

Harry V. Kent, Jr. passed away on Sept. 2, 2015, after complications from a short illness. Harry was born July 24th, 1924 in his parent’s — Alison M. and Harry V. Kent, Sr. — home in Franklin, NJ. As a boy, “Buddy” had a love for outdoor sports: hunting, trapping and fishing. He also loved to make gasoline powered model airplanes, which grew into a passion for flying. His dream of becoming a pilot became a reality during WWII as he enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in Sept. 1944. Within the first few months of training, he received a “Caterpillar” pin awarded to airmen who needed to parachute out from their aircraft. He later became assigned to the 41st Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group of the 5th Air Force. It was here in the pacific Campaign, he was promoted to first lieutenant and became the proud pilot of his own single engine P-51 fighter plane. Buddy was an element leader on surveillance missions over Japan with more than 21 combat missions. He also served as a statistical officer controlling troop movements arriving in that theater for his group.

Buddy left the Air Force in may of 1946 at the close of WWII. However he continued in his service with the Department of the Army as an employee of Picatinny Arsenal as an apprentice toolmaker. He stayed in that profession and eventually oversaw machinists operations for the Arsenal until he retired in 1988.

In his personal life, Buddy continued with his love of hunting and fishing and, in addition to tying his own flies, handmade high quality bamboo fly rods. His hobbies also included fine woodwork from which he often made furniture for the family-still in use today.

Buddy was married the summer of 1950 to Diane Frances Gardner who was born in Morristown, N.J., in 1931 to parents Doris and Jules. In 1952, Buddy and Diane had their first child; a son named Terrance and later, in 1961, a daughter named Kathleen. A month before Terry was born they bought a house in a small lake community in Sussex County, N.J., named Lake Tamarack. Diane passed away in 1994 but, in addition to his son and daughter, Buddy had five grandchildren — Timmy, Eric, Chris, Ryan and Patrick. He also became a great-grandfather of twins (born in Sept. 2012) from his grandson Ryan and his wife, Meredith, one boy named Brodie and the other girl named Mackenzie. And of course, we can’t forget his beloved dog, Ginger, who had been the apple of his eye for the last 12 years.

The family is planning a burial of Buddy next to his wife, Diane, at North Hardyston Cemetery, Hardyston Twp., NJ at a later date.