Lewis Kent

Lewis H. Kent, known to his friends and family as Lew, sons as dad and six grandkids as Pop-pop, passed away on October 4, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Lew was born August 18, 1931, in St. Petersburg, Florida to Lewis Zeno Kent and Lois Hall Kent, both of whom preceded him in death.

Lew is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Ruth Dilker Kent whom he married on February 16,1963. Also surviving are their two sons Lewie Kent and Bill (Michele) Kent. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Olivia (Cody), Emily, Harrison, Taylor, Hunter and Kennedy and one great-grandchild, Grayson; his sister Annette Kent (Harold) West; and their many nieces and nephews.

Along with working long hours and being very involved in the community, Lew loved to bike, fish, travel and spend time in the outdoors. He bought several acres of land in Hernando and Columbia Counties to serve as a place to relax and recharge. Lew loved his family and instilled values of education, hard work, and leaving things better than you found them. His family still enjoys the Hernando County property to this day.

Lew graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1951 and went on to the University of Florida where he participated in ROTC. In 1955 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Lew then served as a Second Lieutenant and later a First Lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers from 1955 to1957 where he did military engineering construction and extended the runways on Guam. 

From 1957 to 1962 Lew worked for Ralph Hansen Engineering Company, Robert E. Lee, Inc. and became a registered land surveyor in the State of Florida. He later became a registered land surveyor in the states of Georgia and Maryland.

In 1962 Lew founded Kent Cowger and Associates and later merged with George F. Young, Inc. in 1967.   From 1967 to 1974, Lew was Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of George F. Young of Florida Inc. He was principal in charge of the land and hydrographic surveying, land planning and architectural departments.  He also coordinated the administration and supervision of the George F. Young of Florida, Inc. subsidiaries of George F. Young, Inc. in St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Tampa and Gainesville, Florida.  In 1975, Lew was named President which he remained till 2004.

Lew’s Community involvement included:

1964-1965 Lew became President Tampa Bay Society of Professional Land Surveyors, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 1975-1976 Lew became President of the Florida Society of Professional Land Surveyors, 1980 Lew was appointed by the governor of the State of Florida to the Florida State Board of Land Surveyors. He became chairman of the Florida State Board of Land Surveyors in 1983.  He was a Patron Contributor and helped make the renovation of Reed Lab at the University of Florida a reality. In 1983 Lew was elected as a director of Barnett Bank, N.A. Pinellas County as well as a member of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.  He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Suncoasters, the Dragon Club as well as the SPYC.

The Celebration of Life and Memorial for Lew will take place on November 2, 2024, at 11 am at First United Methodist Church, 212 3rd St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in Lew's memory to either the St. Anthony's Hospital Foundation, 1200 7th Avenue North, St Petersburg, FL 33705: St. Anthony's Hospital Foundation – Your generosity heals for the Memory Disorder Center.