Vincent N. "Vinny" Gentes

70, of South Kingstown, RI, died peacefully on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 after a four-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was the beloved husband of Donna (Bolinger) Gentes.

Born and raised in Woonsocket, he was a son of Carmalina “Cam” (Materas) Gentes Pacheco of Woonsocket and the late Rene Gentes.

A veteran of the United States Air Force, he served during the Vietnam War stationed as a Staff Sergeant working on missiles while stationed in Montana.

Mr. Gentes lived for over 30 years on Deer Street in Rumford where he worked as a union welder for Ocean State Steel, Washburn and Wire and Pawtucket Ready-Mixed Concrete Company, throughout his long career prior to retirement.

He was a longtime communicant and volunteer of St. Margaret Parish in Rumford. He was one of the several volunteers that helped battle the flames when the original church building caught fire and was later destroyed, in 1988.

Mr. Gentes played hockey for his beloved Mount Saint Charles Academy as a teenager and shared his love of the sport with his children, bringing them to countless Mount games.  An avid sports fan, he adored his Boston Bruins, New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox teams up until the end of his life, always displaying a Boston team hat.

With a passion for cars and mechanics, he spent many hours fixing up old classics in his garage. His pride and joy was his prized cherry red, 1968 Mustang convertible which he had refurbished. He volunteered for nearly a decade helping to run the weekly Bingo game at his daughter’s high school, Bishop Feehan, in Attleboro, making many friends.

Known for his sense of humor, he was always a jokester. Vin enjoyed listening to oldies music, gardening and helping others.  He and his wife Donna were active members of their community and Home Owners Association; where they planned events including founding a Veterans Day breakfast.

Besides his wife and mother,  Vinny is survived by his former wife, Loretta DiCarlo Gentes of North Providence; four siblings, Rene Gentes and his wife Terry of Norwich, Connecticut; Richard Gentes (Pauline Campopiano) of Woonsocket; Sue and her husband Ray Giambi of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Carol and her husband Charles Carpentier of North Smithfield; his three daughters, April and her husband Christopher Robert of Keller, Texas; Lisa and her husband James Hunt of North Providence; and Ashley Gentes of North Providence; his eight grandchildren, Faith, Savannah and Bella Robert of Keller, Texas; Ethan, Jacob, Benjamin and Ryan Hunt of North Providence; and Lila Gentes of North Providence; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his dear dog Abby.

A celebration of life to remember Vinny will be held at a date to be determined (once COVID-19 precautions are lifted).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Vinny’s name to the Alzheimer's Association of Rhode Island, 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906.