Ruby Lontena Gentry

Ruby Lontena “Tena” Gentry, 81, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2026. She was born November 25, 1944, in Idabel, Oklahoma, the daughter of C.W. and Ruby Lee (Smith) Gentry.

Tena graduated from Topeka High School in 1962. One of her first jobs was as a legal secretary for Scott, Scott, Scott and Jackson law firm and later for P.A. Townsend, attorney at law. However, medical records became Tena’s field of choice.

Tena completed the Medical Records Technician Program at the Vocational Technical School in Topeka and worked as a Medical Records Secretary at Shawnee Community Mental Health Corporation. She worked at the Colmery-O’Neil Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Topeka for 19 years, serving a number of years as Health Information Management Section Chief. In that capacity, Tena received a special contribution award for spearheading the digitization process of the Medical Center’s health information management system, an achievement that she was very proud of. During her tenure at the Medical Center, Tena earned an Associate of Science degree in Health Information Technology from Washburn University. She was a member of the American Health Information Management Association and the Kansas Health Information Management Association. Tena went on to employment at the Menninger Clinic from May 1998 until the Clinic’s Topeka closing in June 2003. At Menninger’s, she served as Health Information Manager and as Acting Director and Director of the Health Information Management Service section. She returned to work at the VA Medical Center until her retirement in 2007.

She was baptized and began her Christian journey at New Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Topeka under the leadership of Rev. J.R. Robinson. Most recently, she was a member of The New Beginning Baptist Church, Rev. Cecil T. Washington, Pastor. Tena also spent two years under “Watch Care” where she was much loved at First Baptist Church of Quindaro, Kansas City, Kansas, Rev. Vernon Gladdis, Pastor.

In her spare time, Tena served as an early member of Concerned Citizens for Equal Justice, a local grassroots advocacy group in Topeka, active in civil rights, criminal justice reform, and community equity issues. One of Tena’s absolute favorite pastimes was participating in lively debates (arguments). She loved fishing and enjoyed teaching youth to become future fishing partners. Other hobbies included attending community theater, cooking and baking for the holidays, and spending time with family and friends.

Tena married Glenn Ford (deceased) of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in Topeka, Kansas, in 1970; they divorced after 14 years of marriage, and no children were born of their union. Tena was preceded in death by both parents; two sisters, Merle Faye and Gwendolyn Lois; and four brothers - Lonnie, Curtis, Leslie, and Andy Raymond. She leaves to mourn her passing a daughter, Crystal Gentry of Topeka; two brothers, Jesse Gentry of Kansas City, Missouri, and Dwight Gentry (Terri) of Denver; two sisters, Diane Moore (Richard) and Dwana Spurlock (Rev. Larry), both of Kansas City, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Helen Gentry of West Virginia and Pam Gentry of Florida; former sister-in-law, Kathy Gentry of Topeka; 21 nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and friends.