Henry E. Bentley, Jr.

Henry Edison Bentley, Jr., age 95, passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2015. Henry was born in Letcher County, Kentucky on November 14, 1920, to Henry Edison Bentley, Sr. and Cordelia Martin Bentley. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and three brothers, his wife, Ava Nelle of 62 plus years, and a son, Gary W. Bentley of Statesboro, Georgia.
A World War II Veteran he spent most of his service time during 1942- 1946 at Moody Air Force Base, then known as Moody Field. He married Ava Nelle Carter on December 24, 1943, and they had three sons, Henry Edison III, Gary Wayne, and David Earl. Mr. Bentley worked for the U. S. Postal Service and retired after 33 years as a window clerk at the Valdosta Post Office. He was Secretary-Treasurer of the Georgia Postal Workers APWU for eight years, was a Past Commander of the American Legion Post 13 and Past Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 14. He also served as Past President of the Valdosta Evening Lions Club, Past President of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 1044, Past President of Local 322 APWU Clerks Organization of Valdosta, and Past Adjutant of the American Legion Post 13. He also served as Captain of the American Heart Association while living on West Alden Avenue. He was baptized into Christ at Central Avenue Church of Christ in 1952 and was a devoted church member. Since 1995 he attended church at Dasher Church of Christ.
Henry was very dedicated to his family, his wife, their three sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He always said his faithful and best friend was his wife, Nelle, who had changed his life so that he lived for God.
Survivors include, his wife, Vera Copeland Bentley of Lake Park whom he married on April 26, 2008; two sons, Henry Edison (Eddie) Bentley, III, of Lake Park, David Earl Bentley and his wife, Rebecca of Valdosta; three step sons and their wives, Ron and Billie Copeland, Jamie and Vicky Copeland, Steve and Judy Copeland all of Valdosta; two step daughters, Sue Hughes of Valdosta, and Shelia Thompson and her husband, Wayne of Lake City, Florida; eleven grandchildren, Melissa and her husband, Calvin Stubbs of Valdosta, Emily and her husband, Jason Kent of Warner Robins, Shannon and her husband, John Murph of Alabama, Chandle and her husband, Josh Turbyville of Knoxville, Tennessee, Alecia Nichole and her husband, Clay Beacham of Statesboro, Garrett Bentley and his wife, Meghan of Marietta, David E. Bentley, Jr. and his wife, Shelly of Kingston, Tennessee, Douglas Bentley and his wife, Nicole of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jesse Bentley of Atlanta, Zack Bentley and his wife, Rebekah of Statesboro, Kathryn Bentley Taylor and Jordan of Valdosta; eleven step grandchildren, sixteen step great grandchildren.
The funeral for Mr. Bentley will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2015 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home. Mr. David Nelson will officiate. Burial will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service on Saturday from 10 until 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Georgia Christian School, 4359 Dasher Rd, Valdosta, GA 31601. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home





Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602