The Kent family is saddened to announce the passing of our beloved patriarch, Roman William Kent (Kendzierski), on June 15, 2024, in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

Roman was born on May 25, 1940, in Toledo, to Messena (Woody) Woods and Henrik (Hank) Kent (Kendzierski). The family lived in Toledo until briefly moving to Oakland, California, where Roman was invited to audition for the “Our Gang” series, but was unable to attend due to illness. After moving back to Toledo, Roman developed a love for the wilderness and football, becoming a lifelong Detroit Lions fan.

Roman attended and graduated from DeVilbiss High School in 1958. He joined the U.S. Army at 19, serving as an Army surveyor for the M65 Atomic Cannon weapon system in Germany until a garrison vehicle accident led to his medical discharge in 1962. Roman used his G.I. Bill to earn an engineering degree from the University of Toledo while working at Kaiser Jeep Corporation.

In 1964, Roman met Bernadine Philbin in Maumee. They married on July 17 the following year and had three children: Roman H., Cheryl and Jeanie. The fledgling Kent family lived in various places in Texas and Kentucky due to Roman’s career, eventually settling in Perrysburg, where Roman held several engineering management positions and Bernadine resumed her florist career.

Roman was devoted to his family, enjoying soccer, football and spending time with loved ones. During the family’s extended time living in Ohio, Roman was involved in coaching soccer at the youth and high school levels, as well as little league baseball and softball.

The family moved to southern California in 1987, where Roman worked for McDonnell-Douglas and later Boeing, until his retirement in 2005. Roman and Bernadine retired to Surprise, Arizona, and in 2010, they welcomed their only grandchild, Ardyn Lucille.

Roman William Kent is survived by his wife, Bernadine; children, Roman H., Cheryl and Jeanie; granddaughter, Ardyn; son-in-law, Ian Duncan, and half-sister, Diane Kent Vitale. He will be laid to rest on June 14, 2025, in a private service at Saint Rose Catholic Cemetery in Perrysburg.