Mary Helen was the eldest of three children of Delos and Helen Fowler Eldred.  She was born in Pasadena on January 27, 1922 and died in Ventura, California on December 21, 2011.  Mary Helen graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1940 and went on to Occidental College of which both of her parents are alumni.  In January 1941 she met George Kent, and that began a romance that endured until her death.  The couple married in 1943 while George was in military service.

Mary Helen and George adopted three children, Andrew in 1951, Christopher in 1954, and Carol in 1964.  All three survive her; Andy in Temple City, Chris in Santa Barbara, and Carol Eiland in Ventura.

Mary Helen felt she'd found her ideal vocation as a homemaker.  The Kents lived in San Gabriel for 20 years, in Sierra Madre for 37, and in Ventura for the last seven years of her life.  In the 40 years before retiring to Ventura she was hostess to a myriad of guests, some, especially students, for months, others for days or weekends, still more joined for vacations.

All of her life she has been an unwavering Christian, as a church member she functioned as a deacon, taught Sunday School classes, worked in the nursery, provided flowers for worship services and saw to their distribution after to shut-ins and hospital patients, provided transportation where needed and cheerfully made herself available for many tasks.  She did not seek to be in leadership but preferred to be a willing server.

Mary Helen is survived by her husband, George; her siblings, Doris (SPHS '43) of Alhambra and Bill (SPHS '45) of Glendora; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Ventura County Star, December 28, 2011