Bruce Edison Bentley, Sr.

Bruce Edison Bentley, Sr., age 85, passed away on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at his residence. He was born December 2, 1931, in Appalachia, Va. to the late Benjamin Harrison Bentley, Sr. and Leora Cress Bentley. Bruce graduated from Emory and Henry College in 1955 with a B.S. degree in chemistry. Following college, he was a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy. He was also a member of Pleasant View United Methodist Church. Bruce worked as the supervisor of the chemistry lab at Sperry and retired from Unisys in Bristol, Tenn. where he served as Manufacturing Manager of the Printed Circuit Facility. After retirement, Bruce served five years as Administrator for Washington County, Va.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, James Bentley and Dr. Jack Bentley.

Bruce is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Sally Sprinkle Bentley; son, Dr. Bruce Edison Bentley, Jr. and wife, Linda, of Georgetown, Texas; daughter, Jo Bentley Adams and husband, Dr. Wes Adams, of Bristol, Tenn.; brother, Benjamin Harrison Bentley, Jr. of Charlotte, N.C.; sister, June Bentley Becraft and husband, Edwin “Buddy”, of Gaithersburg, Md.; sister-in-law, Nancy Bentley of Richmond, Va.; six grandchildren: Lt. Col. Trey Adams and wife, Kelli, of Charleston, S.C.; Ashley Adams Cuffe and husband, Jordan, of Gainesville, Fla.; Bruce Edison Bentley, III and wife, Kelsay, of Austin, Texas; Luke Bentley and wife, Brandi, of Atlanta, Ga.; Alex Adams of Knoxville, Tenn.; and Brooke Bentley of Georgetown, Texas; and seven great grandchildren. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend who had an entertaining sense of humor.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Friday, August 25, 2017, at Pleasant View United Methodist Church, 18416 Lee Highway, Abingdon, Va. 24210. The funeral service will follow at 7:00 p.m. Friday at the church with Dr. Ralph Kidd, Rev. Barbara Farmer, and Bishop Richard Looney officiating. A burial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2017, at Knollkreg Memorial Park, 556 Walden Road NE, Abingdon, Va. 24210.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. The family of Bruce Edison Bentley, Sr. is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, Va. 24210 (276-623-2700).