Alfred Fernandez Gentle Sr., 89, of Hoover passed away on June 19, 2013. He was born July 16, 1923 in New Orleans, La.

Gentle served in the U.S. Navy during WWII 1941-1946, attaining the rank of Chief Radioman and was a veteran of the North Pacific Aleutian Campaign. He served in the Bering Sea for two years and was awarded the American Defense Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and WWII Victory Medal.

Gentle attended Blessed Sacrament Academy in West End and West End High School. After having served for five years in the U.S. Navy, he continued his education at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University), graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering.

Gentle retired from Southern Bell (Bell South) as operations manager, after 35 years of service in engineering and regulatory (Atlanta, Ga.). He also spent two years in New York working for AT&T and continued in consulting work for a number of years.

He was an active member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Hoover, a life member of Auburn Alumni Association, a life member of Disabled American Veterans and a former Boy Scouts leader.

With his wife Emma, he traveled throughout the United States and worldwide, sometimes escorting groups.

He was an avid gardener.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwige Louise Fernandez Gentle and Edgar Cuthbert Gentle Sr. and one brother, Jack E. Gentle Sr.

Survivors include Gentle’s wife of 62 years, the former Emma Quattlebaum; three daughters, E. Renee Gentle Powers (Tom) of Clanton, Anita Gentle Newcomb of Columbia, Md. and Nancy Gentle Boudrie of Exton, Pa; one son, Alfred F. Gentle, Jr. (Karen) of Columbia, Md.; seven grandchildren, Samuel Powers (Alicia) of Greenville, S.C., Russell Powers (Melissa) of Clanton, Rebecca and Michelle Gentle of Columbia, Md., Rachel Newcomb of Atlanta, Ga. and Emma and Reid Boudrie of Exton, Pa. and two great-grandchildren, Cole Powers and Logan Powers.

Gentle is also survived by one sister, Edwige M. Gentle of Denham Springs, La. and one brother, Edgar C. Gentle Jr. (Jeanne) Nashville, Tenn.

Visitation will be held on June 25 from 9-11 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 2061 Patton Chapel Rd., Birmingham 35216.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at the church at 11 a.m.

Interment at Southern Heritage Cemetery, 475 Cahaba Valley Road in Pelham, 36080 will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Indicate that it is in honor of Alfred F. Gentle, 3539 Polo Parc Ct, Hoover 35226 or online at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.