William Edward Kent

William Edward Kent, 61, of Upatoi, Georgia passed away Friday afternoon, August 25, 2023, at Piedmont Northside Hospital in Columbus, GA. Funeral services will be held at the Chapel of Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Rd., Columbus GA, 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 with Joe Young officiating. Interment will follow at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, August 29, 2023, from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Mr. Kent was born November 8, 1961, in Columbus, Georgia, the son of the late James Carl Kent and Ella Mae LaFrantz Scott Kent. After 30 years of dedicated service with the Columbus Water Works, William concluded his career as the Manager of Environmental Services. Throughout his tenure, he was heavily involved with many organizations and events. Some of these included GAWP, Help the Hooch, Rivers Alive, Oxbow Meadows, and Keep Columbus Beautiful. William was a true conservationist and an avid outdoorsman throughout his life, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing sports, especially golf, and softball. To say he loved Alabama football would be an understatement. William was well known for his excellent cooking and grilling, as well as his boiled peanuts.

Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister J. LaFrantz Kent-Bizio, and nephews William Rick Rabion and Jonathan Scott Rabion.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 18 years, Robin Gale Kent, daughter Jessica Kent Gibson and her husband Adam; son, Joe Young and his fiancée Jamie; sister Karletta “Keeta” Kent-Dimitri and her husband Timothy; grandchildren, Scarlett and Savannah Gibson; nephews, Brad Rabion and Tristan Kent; and many other relatives and friends. The family remembers Mr. Kent as a devoted husband, father, brother, and friend–and a mentor and leader to so many.

Flowers are accepted or contributions can be made to the Keep Columbus Beautiful Foundation at https://www.columbusga.org/keepcolsbeautiful/ or Oxbow Meadows at https://oxbow.columbusstate.edu.