Thomas L Dente

Thomas Lloyd Dente, 69, passed away unexpectedly on June 23, 2026. He is now with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom he faithfully walked with for many years.

Tom was born and spent nearly his entire life in the Akron area. He will be remembered for his encouraging smile, his love for his family and friends, and his strong inner faith.  An Eagle Scout from his youth, Tom carried the values of service, integrity, and faithfulness throughout his life.

He enjoyed a long career as a Project Planner with Lockheed Martin, where he was respected for his positive attitude and dependability. His faith was the cornerstone of his life. Tom faithfully served in his local church and was passionate about serving others through homeless ministries. He believed in living out his faith through kindness, encouragement, and compassion for those around him.

Tom loved spending time with family and friends, whether traveling together, sharing meals, or simply enjoying one another’s company. He enjoyed music, playing pickle ball and tennis and was an enthusiastic fan of the Cleveland sports teams. He also had a deep love for his country and was proud to call America home.

Tom treasured his family. He loved his wife, Carol, with unwavering devotion, and together they built a marriage founded on faith, love, and commitment. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather, a caring brother and uncle, and a loyal friend whose steady presence, gentle encouragement, and genuine kindness touched countless lives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and JuNell Dente; his in-laws, Allen and Bonnie Dias; and his brothers-in-law, John Jones and Jim Hurd.

Thomas is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Carol; his daughters, Jennifer (Mark) Berggren and Rachel (Mark) Valentini; his cherished grandchildren, Norah, Addy, Wesley, Dominic, and Francesca; his sisters, Yvonne Jones and Renee Hurd; his sister-in-law, Susan Dias; his niece, Kelly (Dan) Himmelright; his nephews, David (Jill) Jones and Brent (Dana) Myers; and his great-nieces and great-nephews.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Freshwater Community Church, 590 Hartman Road, Wadsworth. A funeral service will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. at the church, officiated by Pastor Jake Poole and Pastor Mark Berggren.

Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Haven of Rest Ministries, P.O. Box 547, Akron, OH 44309.