Kent Niles
<p>May 19, 1942 – November 27, 2023</p><p>We celebrate the life and legacy of our brother, father, grand- and great-grandfather, Kent Theodore Niles, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Rowena (Renee), brother Edwin (Ed) and sister Justine, children Frank and James Cappini, and Kimberlee Mickel.</p><p>He is survived by his brothers Dave and Wendell, children Kent Niles Jr. (Ted), Kelly Short, Ron Niles, Angela Wright, Sandy Claiborne, David Wheaton, Michael Bryant, Judy Williams, Kathy Parman, John Cappini, and grand-children and great-grandchildren too numerous to list.</p><p>Kent’s first two marriages, to Patricia Glick and Helene Eldredge, ended in divorce. In 1985, Kent married Rowena (Renee) Jester, each of whom would quickly become the love of the others’ life. Until they were separated by Renee’s passing in early 2021, we all admired the strength of the union, and how each gave the other the space to thrive in their own right. </p><p>Kent was a very talented “natural” mechanic, beginning in the era when “fixing” something meant diagnosing and repairing the fault, not simply wholesale replacement of a module or component. As such, he was the “Go-To” guy for all and sundry who needed those skills brought to bear on a tool, tractor, car, truck or other mechanical device. No matter how busy he may have been in his day job, he never turned away anyone who sought out his help. He was proud of the nickname “Mr. Gadget” given him to describe his resourcefulness.</p><p>Although Kent’s first two marriages ended in divorce, the relationships formed with the children never ended at all. All the children, no matter the maternal parentage, were treated exactly the same. He was, simply, “Pop” to all. He never introduced his children to others as anything other than “My son” or “My daughter.” The term “Step” never entered into it, often to the amusement of those on the other side of the introduction.</p><p>A celebration of life will be held Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 2:00pm at Walton’s Sierra Chapel, located at 875 W. Second Street, Reno, Nevada, 89503.</p><p>The family invites you to leave a message of condolence on Kent’s Memory Wall at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com</p><p><br></p>Obituary
May 19, 1942 – November 27, 2023
We celebrate the life and legacy of our brother, father, grand- and great-grandfather, Kent Theodore Niles, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Rowena (Renee), brother Edwin (Ed) and sister Justine, children Frank and James Cappini, and Kimberlee Mickel.
He is survived by his brothers Dave and Wendell, children Kent Niles Jr. (Ted), Kelly Short, Ron Niles, Angela Wright, Sandy Claiborne, David Wheaton, Michael Bryant, Judy Williams, Kathy Parman, John Cappini, and grand-children and great-grandchildren too numerous to list.
Kent’s first two marriages, to Patricia Glick and Helene Eldredge, ended in divorce. In 1985, Kent married Rowena (Renee) Jester, each of whom would quickly become the love of the others’ life. Until they were separated by Renee’s passing in early 2021, we all admired the strength of the union, and how each gave the other the space to thrive in their own right.
Kent was a very talented “natural” mechanic, beginning in the era when “fixing” something meant diagnosing and repairing the fault, not simply wholesale replacement of a module or component. As such, he was the “Go-To” guy for all and sundry who needed those skills brought to bear on a tool, tractor, car, truck or other mechanical device. No matter how busy he may have been in his day job, he never turned away anyone who sought out his help. He was proud of the nickname “Mr. Gadget” given him to describe his resourcefulness.
Although Kent’s first two marriages ended in divorce, the relationships formed with the children never ended at all. All the children, no matter the maternal parentage, were treated exactly the same. He was, simply, “Pop” to all. He never introduced his children to others as anything other than “My son” or “My daughter.” The term “Step” never entered into it, often to the amusement of those on the other side of the introduction.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 2:00pm at Walton’s Sierra Chapel, located at 875 W. Second Street, Reno, Nevada, 89503.
The family invites you to leave a message of condolence on Kent’s Memory Wall at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com
Events
02:00 PM
RENO, NV 89503