William Lents

William T. “Bud” Lents of Flora, IL passed away Thursday, the 30th of June, 2022 in his home, after a long battle with cancer.

Bud was born on the 17th of February 1938 in Flora to Frank and Madeline (Gibson) Lents.  He graduated from Flora High School. He served our nation in the US Navy for twenty years, obtaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer.  In 1976, Bud retired from the Navy and returned with his family to Flora.  He quickly found another way to serve, this time his neighbors, as a US Postal Service letter carrier for twenty years.

Bud was active in Flora sports from high school to adulthood.  When he returned to Flora after his military career, he was probably best known for coaching Chaney’s Little League team. You can find many of his players or their children coaching in Flora Little League today.  He was an umpire for both baseball and softball and also a line judge for Flora H.S. Football.   He was an avid bowler and could quite often be found with his cousin Jim Eaton at the Flora or Salem bowling alleys.  He was also a member of the Flora American Legion.

Bud is survived by his wife, Linda Lents (Hinman), his children Michael T. Lents and his wife Barbara (Putbrese) of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and Stephanie Schell (Lents) and her husband Scott of Flora, grandchildren, Philip T. Lents (Elizabeth) of Silver Springs Maryland, John M. Lents and Christina H Lents both of Portsmouth, RI, his sister Marilyn Young and her husband Harlan of Flora. There are a host of nephews and nieces, great nephews and great nieces that all loved “Uncle Bud”.  He was preceded in death by his son Stephen and grandson Cecil Schell.

His easygoing manner and quick wit always lightened the mood around him.  He will be dearly missed by his family and friends who were all a little bit better from knowing him.

Funeral services honoring the life of Bud will be held at 1:00 pm Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at the McGriff Funeral Home in Flora with Loren Holloway officiating. Burial will follow at the Cisne Cemetery, Cisne with Military Honors presented. Visitation will be held on Wednesday at the funeral home where friends may call from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bud’s memory to the Clay County Cancer Crusaders or Clay County Hospice. To sign the guestbook online or share a memory please visit www.mcgriffandtriplettfh.com.

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