Susan Frances Kenoyer Dent

Dent—Susan Frances Kenoyer Dent, 82, on October 6, 2024, peacefully, surrounded by family in Greensboro, N.C. Susan was born on November 1, 1941, to Joseph Cartland Kenoyer Sr. and Evangeline Ernest Kenoyer in Philadelphia, Pa. She had two younger siblings, Joseph Cartland Kenoyer Jr. and Elaine Kenoyer (later McDaniel). Susan’s early years were spent in Oakford, Feasterville, and Bryn Mawr, Pa. Her family has a long Quaker heritage, with her paternal grandmother, Annie Florence Berry Kenoyer, serving as a recorded Quaker minister, and her maternal aunt, Ruth Dorinda Ernest Williams, working as a missionary in Kenya. Summers were spent in central Maine, an area settled by Quakers, where there is a Friends summer camp in South China.

Susan graduated from Haverford Senior High School in 1959. She played the clarinet in the concert band and was a majorette. She attended Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., where she met Gary Caswell Dent. They married on May 27, 1961, at Guilford Baptist Church following their sophomore year. Susan worked while Gary completed his degree at Guilford. She later earned her degree in sociology, with highest honors, from North Carolina State University in 1975.

Following college, Gary served in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1968. During this time, they welcomed their three children, Pamela in 1966, Teresa in 1968, and Charles in 1969. The family moved around to Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, and Terceira Island in the Azores.

From 1968 to 1976, the Dents lived in Vineland, N.J., and North Carolina and were members of Rockingham Preparative Meeting near Harrisonburg, Va. In 1976, they worshiped at Quaker House in Fayetteville, N.C., before returning to Greensboro, where Susan began a 29-year career in credit union management. The family became active members of New Garden Meeting in Greensboro, where Susan served as meeting treasurer and on various committees. She also contributed her financial and management expertise to the Board of Trustees of Friends Homes, Inc.

Susan’s greatest pleasure was being with others and getting to know them. She was kind and considerate and made others feel good about themselves. She also loved animals, reading, cooking, gardening, sewing, knitting, RVing, swimming, kayaking, boating, and nature walks. The Dents spent 15 years in retirement in Wilkesboro, N.C., and attended Wilkes County Meeting.

Diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in January 2019, Gary and Susan moved to Friends Homes West retirement community in Greensboro and to New Garden Meeting. They participated in many social and cultural activities until Susan’s health declined.

Susan is survived by her husband, Gary Dent; and three children, Pamela Kay Dent Roller, Teresa Ann Dent Hill, and Charles Caswell Dent.