Obituary of Audrey L. Bentley

Mary Audrey Lentz Bentley, age 83, died at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC, on March 8, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Dr. Donald W. Bentley, and by her mother and father, Junie Coffey Lentz and Ross Carson Lentz. A native of Watauga County, Audrey grew up on her familys farm on Aho Road, near Blowing Rock. She graduated from Blowing Rock High School and attended Appalachian State University. Audrey was retired from Carolina Caribbean, Tweetsie Railroad, Hound Ears Club, and Elk River Club, where she worked as executive assistant to the Robbins family for many years. Audrey was also a licensed North Carolina real estate broker and operated in Cherokee County, NC, for several years. Before the death of her husband in 2005, the Bentleys loved to travel and explore different places around the world, her favorite destination being Greece. In later years, Audrey enjoyed traveling to destinations closer to home, spending time with friends, participating in Bible studies, and attending various retreats and conferences with the women of her church and those in her Friday Morning Grace group which met in Boone for several years. Audrey maintained a strong faith in God and was an active member of her church, Grace Highlands Presbyterian, in Boone. She was a loyal and dependable friend, always ready with an encouraging word or a sampling of her dry wit to add a little humor when the situation called for it. Audrey loved the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, especially in her favorite seasons: spring and summer. A lover of nature, she appreciated being able to take short hikes around different places in the area, planting flowers in her yard, and feeding the many animals and the variety of birds that called her yard home. Audreys close friends would like to thank the team in the neuro-ICU department at Forsyth Medical Center for their compassionate care and kindness during Audreys illness. They also want to extend their gratitude to the staffs of Kindred at Home and Home Instead for the assistance and care they provided Audrey over the past several weeks, enabling her to stay in her home for as long as it was possible. A graveside memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 2:00 pm at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock. The Reverend Graham Svendsen, Audreys pastor, will officiate. All who knew and loved Audrey are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Highlands Presbyterian Church, 8483 Hwy 421, Vilas, NC 28692 Online condolences may be shared with her friends at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving Audreys friends.