Joseph William "Joe" Dent

Joe Dent
After a long, hard-fought battle with cancer, Joe Dent passed on Tuesday, December 08, 2009 at home in the company of his wife Donna.
Joseph W. Dent was born in San Simone, Arizona on April 27, 1921 to parents George G. and Lois I. (Williams) Dent.
Prior to settling down and starting his career, Joe served his country, spending three and a half years overseas during World War II with the Army's 41st Infantry Division in New Guinea, where he attained the rank of Battalion Sergeant Major.
Following his military service, Joe moved to Lebanon, Oregon where he helped his father build houses, and then on to Roseburg.
Joe was very active in our community and best known for his work in Real Estate. Joe acquired his Real Estate License on August 6, 1945 and after 2 ½ years working at Roseburg Realty, purchased the company his uncle had started. His long career in Real Estate was marked with numerous awards and achievements, including Realtor of the Year.
Many subdivisions in Douglas County were conceived of, and or developed, by Joe Dent including; Hucrest, the Keasy Road Subdivision, Whistlers Lane, Echo Bend, Westwood, and many others. Joe also held a license as a certified appraiser and was responsible for helping appraise all of the right-of-way for Interstate 5 from Grants Pass to Portland, and also highways 138 and 42 to the coast.
Joe was a proud member of the Masonic Order, Laurel Lodge #13, and a member of the Scottish Rite 32nd degree.
Joe served on many Boards and Commissions including the Airport Commission, Roseburg City Planning Commission and on the District 4 School Board. He was also responsible for starting the Douglas County Planning Commission. Joe served 21 years on the Board of Umpqua Savings and Loan, retiring as President.
Joe was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors. He and his wife Donna made many trips over the cascades to their hunting retreat in Shaniko. Joe also hunted throughout the entire Pacific Northwest including most of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.
His other love was flying. Joe and his brother purchased and operated a charter flying service in Juneau, Alaska with over 100 planes. He flew numerous planes over the years and even took acrobatic training at a flight school in Phoenix, Arizona. And in true "Dent" style when he attended the school, because he loved it so much the first time, he stayed and repeated it two more times. Joe is survived by his wife of 39 years, Donna Dent of Sutherlin; daughters Jackie Bigham and Vicki Greene both of Palm Springs, California; Grandson Brett M. Greene of Sandy Oregon; Great Grandchildren Kaylie and Devin Green also of Sandy Oregon; his sister Rhoda Jones and her husband Ken of Roseburg; his sister Ruth Jessup of Washington State, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, brother Tom Dent, sister Erlah Hobart, and sister Dorothy Luty.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Sutherlin Community Center, located at 150 S. Willamette (corner of Willamette and Central), on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 2:00 pm. Refreshments will be provided.
At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joe's memory to the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children at 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, or to their charity of choice.