Dick Gentry

Richard D. “Dick” Gentry of Redmond passed away peacefully on February 3, 2025. He was born May 4, 1935 in Yakima, Washington. He met Rita Pflueger in their junior high school band and they were married for 68 years. After Dick’s service in the US Army, the couple moved to Seattle in 1959 and then lived in Redmond from 1968 on. Dick’s career was strongly rooted in the travel industry. He started as an aircraft marshaller for West Coast Airlines and then grew into Sales positions with P&O-Orient Lines, Thomas Cook & Son, Berry World Travel, and Western International Hotels. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Dick and Rita then formed Ski-Pak, a ski tour travel company in 1972 and owned it until 2003. It was particularly influential in introducing an up-and-coming Whistler ski resort to the US market. Dick also served as President of Skål International Seattle, a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world promoting global tourism and friendship.

Dick loved classic cars, travel (especially cruises), and he was the dad joke king before “dad jokes” were a thing. He is survived by his wife Rita Gentry and brother-in-law Roger Pflueger. He was a beloved father to Jill Frost (Kurt) of Bainbridge Island and Julie Cohen (Howie) of Snoqualmie, and grandfather to Maddie Frost-Shaffer (Andrew Shaffer), Bella Frost, and Skye Cohen. Special thanks to the caring staff of EvergreenHealth Hospital and Hospice Care. 

A private graveside service was held at Port Blakely Cemetery on Bainbridge Island.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA