John C. Kent, age 82, died Saturday, April 2, 2011, at his home in Burlington, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Patricia (Meade) Kent, to whom he was married for almost 58 years, and the cherished brother of Mary Beth Goudey of Scituate and the late Richard Kent and his wife Claire of Newton. He was born in Boston, October 17, 1928, the son of the late Richard and Helen (Connolly) Kent. He attended Saint Anthony's Grammar School, was graduated from Boston's High School of Commerce, and completed post secondary education at Boston Trade, Northeastern University, and Lincoln Tech, where he sharpened the blue collar skills he learned from his father and in turn passed on to his children. He enjoyed a rich childhood growing up in Jamaica Plain and Allston. He joined the National Guard in 1947 and served during the Korean War with the United States Air Force as a Staff Sergeant at Otis AFB until 1953. He worked for 55 years for the New England Telephone Company, NYNEX and Verizon, starting as a messenger and retiring as an engineering manager. He was actively involved in the church, as president of St. Margaret's Mr. and Mrs. Club, director of the CCD program of St. Malachy's Church, and, most recently, a Eucharistic Minister at St. Theresa's. A resident of Burlington for 55 years, he was a Town Meeting Member, chairman of the Land Use Committee, and a member of the Burlington Knights of Columbus. He was also a Trustee of Little Sebago Association in Maine. He was always a gentleman and lived with dignity, even during his years with Parkinson's disease. His family fondly remembers camping vacations in North Conway, NH, with ten in a tent. He was the devoted father of John Kent and his wife Paula Cullen Kent of Nashua, NH, Elaine Ingram and her husband David of Wilmington, Patricia Kent and her husband John Ahern of Concord, Barbara Iadarola and her husband Barry of Billerica, Michael Kent and his wife Robin of North Billerica, Paul Kent and his wife Claire of Northwood, NH, Philip Kent and his wife Lisa of Stoneham, and Susan Nicosia and her husband Michael of Methuen. He is also survived by 24 loving grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Funeral from the Burns Funeral Home, 354 Boston Rd. (Rt. 3A), Billerica, Thursday, April 7, at 9:00 a.m. followed by a funeral mass in St. Theresa's Church, Billerica, at 10:00 a.m. Relatives & friends invited. Visiting hours, Wednesday, April 6 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John's name to the National Parkinson's Foundation, APDA MA Chapter, 72 E. Concord St., C3, Boston, MA 02118. Interment, Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.