Richard Kent Cherry

Richard Kent Cherry, 86, of Arlington, Texas, passed away December 31, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. Kent was born November 24, 1934 in Pilot Point, Texas. His parents were Jack Benton Cherry and Frances Kent Cherry. The family moved to Arlington in 1940. Kent played center on the 1951 Texas State Championship Arlington High School Colts football team. After graduating from high school in 1952, he attended Arlington State College and The University of Texas at Austin. He obtained his medical degree from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas in 1959. His internship was at Parkland Memorial Hospital, after which, he was a captain and flight surgeon in the United States Air Force. He married Janet Allen of Grand Prairie in 1957, and they had three children, seven grandchildren and six (number 7 on the way) great grandchildren. He was in private practice with E. Lowell Whitley, in Arlington in the areas of general medicine, OB/Gyn, and orthopedics. They opened West Park Clinic and were soon joined by N. Darwin Hale. Kent retired from private practice in 2001 but continued practicing medicine until 2014. Kent served several terms as Chief of Staff of Arlington Memorial Hospital and was team physician to the Arlington High School Colts from 1962 through 1997. He was named a Distinguished Colt in 2009. Kent was an avid (and for several years a single-digit handicap) golfer, shot his at age from ages 72 until 81, was a member of Shady Valley Golf Club and had 7 career holes in one. In his retirement, he added new hobbies: gardening and cooking. Kent was predeceased by his parents and his grandson, Brennan. He is survived by his wife, Janet; his three children, Karen (Brad) Cox, Kurt Cherry and Kathy Atkinson; his grandchildren, Chelsea (Ben) Allen, Cameron (Ryan) Hughes, Reagan Atkinson, Rush (Megan) Atkinson, Hayley Cox, and Carley Cherry; and his great grandchildren, Brooks, Emma and Parker Allen, Kate and Kent Hughes and Bowen Atkinson. Kent's remains will be buried in a private ceremony at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Gifts in Kent's memory may be made to AHS Football Booster Club, PO Box14483, Arlington, TX 76094 or First United Methodist Church, 313 N. Center Street, Arlington, TX 76011-7593. Arrangements are by Wade Family Funeral Home. Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233