William John "Chief" Dent, 88, of Town Creek, MD passed away on March 12, 2010 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Chief was born on July 8, 1921 in Detroit, MI. As an infant he was adopted by his maternal grandparents and grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

Chief was a WW II veteran serving in the United States Navy for 24 years and retired as a Senior Chief while stationed at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in 1964. After his retirement from the Navy, he began working for Sheaffer's Food Mart in Tall Timbers, MD. In 1978 he purchased the store which is now known as WJ Dent & Sons/Chief's Bar.

Chief enjoyed serving the Tall Timbers community through his store. He was an avid reader of paperback science fiction books and also enjoyed fishing and his occasional trips to Canada to visit family and friends. He was never without a toothpick or his pocket planners.

He is survived by his children, Thelma K. Sparks of Great Mills, MD, Ralph A. (Tony) and Susan W. Dent of Hollywood, MD, David A. Dent of Town Creek, MD, and William A. (Andy) Dent of Tall Timbers, MD; his grandchildren Jessica M. Dent of Mattawan, MI, Darryl S. Sparks of Great Mills, MD, Rebecca L. Pratt of Houston, TX and Samuel L. Pratt of Hollywood, MD; his nephew Steve Dent and his family of Sudbury, Ontario, CA and his niece Arlene Rogers and her family of Texas.

He is predeceased by his wife Mary Jo, and his grandson Thomas T. Sparks, Jr.

The family will receive friends for Chief's Life Celebration on Thursday, March 18, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home chapel. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, NNMC Chapter, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889; or the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1, Valley Lee, MD 20692.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.