Janie Hale Gentry, better known as Dolly Gentry of Spring Valley, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Mrs. Gentry was born on May 12, 1928 to June Piper Hale and Clyde Reeves Hale of Spring Valley. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Penick Gentry and two sisters, Virginia June Hale Vaughan and Mary Reeves Hale Jones. She is survived by a niece Mary Ann Jones Gebler, nephew R.E. Jones III and several grand nephews and nieces.

She graduated from Fries High School and then entered Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA where she received her BS degree. She worked with Virginia Agriculture Extension Service and was assigned to Stafford County, VA.

She married Penick Gentry in 1952.

She entered graduate school at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD and received her masters degree. Later she did post graduate work at the University of Maryland, College Park, New York University, New York and America University, Washington, DC.

During her career she worked in the following positions teacher, school social worker, guidance counselor and assistant principal. These locations were in Arlington, VA, Fair Lawn, N.J., out of the United States in Dominican Republic where she was principal of the American School there. Some of her research includes "A Study of School Age Children referred to the Arlington County Juvenile Court, "History of Federal Aid to Education," "A Look at Another Minority Group in New York City-The People From the Dominican Republic."

Since retiring to Spring Valley she has written and published the book "Spring Valley': Yesterday and Today."

As a youth she joined the United Methodist Church at the Ebenezer United Methodist Church located in Spring Valley, VA. Her religious values and faith in God sustained her throughout her life.

A graveside service will be held at the Ebenezer United Methodist Church Cemetery, Spring Valley, VA on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 1:30 PM with the Rev. Bill Shupe and the Rev. Olin Shupe officiating. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.