Howard Lee Dent Sr., 73, of Abilene , passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2012, at Mesa Springs Healthcare Center in Abilene . As he had requested, his body was cremated under the direction of Netherton Funeral Home in Brownwood .

The family will hold a private service in celebration of his life at a later date. Howard Lee Dent was born on November 26, 1938, in Fairmont West Virginia , to William Dent and Margaret Woodard Dent. He served his country in the United States Navy and in May of 1975, he married Janice Logsdon in Sweetwater , Texas .

Howard had worked in the trucking industry and was a member of the Methodist Church . He was a longtime resident of Sweetwater before moving to Brownwood , and had lived in Abilene for the last 6 years.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife, Janice Dent of Abilene ; children, Robert and Karen Dent of Midland , Mark and Tracy Dent of Lake Brownwood , Mike and Porsha Dent of Abilene , Lee and Patty Dent of Abilene ; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his sister, Midge Dent Fluharty of Farmington West Virginia; sister-in-law, Darlene Dent of Leander and nephew, Guy Dent. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Margaret Dent and three brothers, William “Bill” Dent, Jack Dent, and Virgil Dent. Friends and family members are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.nethertonfuneralhome.com