Retired Detective Lt Lentz

Albert Sidney Lentz, 81, retired Lieutenant of the Detective Division of the Columbia Police Department, passed away Friday, January 6, 2012 at Nashville Alive Hospice. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 10:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Terry Peery and Bobby Harmon officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors at graveside provided by the U. S. Marine Corps Honors Unit. The family will begin visitation with friends Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols concluding with Masonic Rites at 6:00 p.m. conducted by Columbia Masonic Lodge #31. The Columbia Police Department Honor Guard will provide honors during visitation and throughout services. The family suggests memorials to Zion Christian Academy, 6901 Old Zion Road, Columbia 38401 or Columbia Academy, 1171 West 7th Street, Columbia 38401. The Maury County native was the son of the late Robert Sidney Lentz and Theola Lemay Lentz Brown. He was a graduate of Columbia Central High School and long-time member of the Church of Christ. He began service in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951. After two years of active duty, he transferred to the U. S. Marine Corps Reserves in 1953 with the rank of Lance Corporal until discharge in 1959. Mr. Lentz began his 30 plus years career with the Columbia Police Department as a patrolman and retired in 1992 as Lieutenant of the Detective Division. He served Maury County Commissioner of the 2nd District; was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police; a 34th Degree Scottish Rite Mason and Columbia Masonic Lodge #31; Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. A loving son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and true friend to all, he is survived by his wife of 58 years, Martha Hill Lentz, whom he married May 12, 1954; son, Albert Michael "Bubba" Lentz of Columbia; daughters, Marsha (Jeff) Littrell of Cherokee, Alabama, Kay Lentz Kelley of Columbia, and Kim (Willis) Jones of Brentwood; sisters, Mary Frances Howell of Columbia, Doris Ann (Roy) Head of Clarksville, Hazel Lentz Cothran of Columbia, Sue Lentz Greene of Columbia, and Sara Lentz Haddock of Columbia; brother-in-law, Jimmy Hill of Columbia; sister-in-law, Barbara (Marvin) Edwards of Columbia; grandchildren, Adam (Mary Katherine) Littrell, Thad (Crystal) Littrell, Beth Slay Buckner, Gina Suzanne Slay, Jon Michael Lentz,Derek Alexander Lentz, Sydney Claire Lentz, Will Jones, and Jackson Jones; great-grandchildren, Phillip Lentz Buckner, Savannah Littrell, Ella Littrell, Caden Wicks, and Cayley Littrell; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his step-father, Thomas Marion Brown; brothers, Robert Thomas Lentz, Leslie Frank Lentz, and Herbert Jefferson Lentz; mother-in-law, Edna Hill; father-in-law, Roy Hill; brothers-in-law, Bill Howell, Wayne Cothran, Cotton Henderson, Jerry Haddock, and David Greene; sister-in-law, Sondra Hill. Serving as active pallbearers are Adam Littrell, Thad Littrell, Jon Michael Lentz, Derek Lentz, Will Jones, Jackson Jones, and Marvin Edwards, Jr. Honorary pallbearers include Loyd Witherspoon, Diane and Ray Messick, Leroy Hill, Don Rose, Roy Sellers, Pat Troope, Sheriff Enoch George, Carl Wilkinson, Charlie Richardson, Mayor James Bailey, Judge Bob Jones, Steve Howell, Walter Hall, Kenny Brady, Judge Bobby Sands, Willis "Sonny" Jones, Columbia Police Department, Maury County Sheriff's Department, and Tennessee Highway Patrol. The family wishes to express special thanks to Vanderbilt Cardiology Group, Dr. Janice Vinson, Vanderbilt Palliative Care Group, and Alive Hospice of Nashville for their care and concern during his illness.