Gene A. Gant

Gene A. Gant, 86, of Kent, passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the Hospice of the Western Reserve in Medina, OH.  He was born in Brownsville, PA on June 6, 1937, where he lived, worked, played football, played in the band and was on student council until graduating from Redstone High School in May 1955. The next day he joined the United States Air Force, serving for five years.

His service took him many places, with much of the time in Germany as an intelligence specialist, critiquing flight patterns. While there he ran track and played football for the U.S.A.F. traveling across Europe, enjoying the jazz clubs of the era. Gene studied at the University of Maryland, Germany and earned the equivalent of two years before being honorably discharged from the Air Force.

He was home a week then started his studies at Kent State University where he also ran track and played football.  Gene earned a B.A. in English and German; he was working on his M.A. in English when he took a ceramics class. He loved to shape the clay and experiment with glazes and earned a Master of Arts degree. He developed a national show record in ceramics and glassblowing including juried exhibits from Denver, Colorado to Cooperstown, New York. He published poetry and edited collections through Shelley’s Press.

Throughout his time in Kent, he worked at local industries and retired after 32 years as a warehouseman at the Distribution Plant of General Electric in Ravenna. He continued to read, write, and garden through the health challenges of a stroke, several cancers and loss of sight to glaucoma. He rode his bike after he could no longer drive and could be seen cycling around the neighborhood, up to the local market to play his numbers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Gant and Roberta Brown Avery, his stepfather Leonard Avery, and his sister Anita Avery. Gene leaves his partner, Denise Stuart of Kent and his brother, Allen Avery of Brownsville, nieces, a nephew, cousins, and friends.

In honoring Gene’s wishes, he was cremated. A Celebration of Life, Poetry and Art will be held at a later date.

Cremation services in the care of Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory. 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.