Richard "Dick" Zentz,70, of Caledonia, MS passed away Friday, September 7, 2018 at Aberdeen Hospital in Aberdeen, MS, just two days shy of his 71 ^st birthday.

A memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, September 11, 2018 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home in Columbus, MS. Mr. Zentz final resting place with be in Kansas near his parents.

Mr. Zentz was born on was born September 9, 1947 to the late Robert A. and Gayle Tarvin Zentz in Beloit, KS. He attended public schools in Jewell, KS and graduated from high school in 1965. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and made a career of military service. His military service career let the "small town" boy see the world having traveled to Greenland, Antarctica, Brussels, Paris Azores, Vietnam, Guam, Bangkok, Denmark, Bermuda and across the USA, just to mention a few.  Mr. Zentz received several medals and awards while in the military, the biggest honors was him receiving 2 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Valor. His specialty was the weather wing and after his retirement from the military on September 1, 1988, he went to work for the Department of Defense in a civilian capacity but still "watching" the weather. Mr. Zentz served 23 years in the Air Force  and 23 years in civil service. He was named Air Force Weather Civilian of the Year in 2008. He retired from civilian weatherman in 2013 and continued to make his home in Caledonia, MS. Mr. Zentz was an avid hunter, a love that was instilled in him as a child growing up on the farm in Jewell County, KS. He probably began by hunting rabbits with his dad and brothers and as recently as two years ago he made a trip back to Kansas to hunt with deer.

Mr. Zentz in survived by his brothers- Robert Zentz of Eatonville, WA, Ronald (Pat) Zentz of Jewell, KS; sisters- Peggy (Terry) Stubbins of Frankston, TX, Linda (Mike) Wade of Stephenville, TX; nieces and nephews; and his close friend and hunting buddy- Stephen Johnston and family.

In lieu of flowers family request memorials be made to Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society online at clhumanesociety.org.