CAROLINA'S UMPIRE ASSOCIATION

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, brother, daddy, and uncle Barry Lynn Lentz on June 21, 2025. He was born on November 14, 1959, the younger son of the late Earl B. Lentz Sr. and Betty-Ruth Helms Lentz of Kannapolis.

After a 25-year career in the textile machine and fiber industry, Barry became a student again. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in biology for secondary education and added on a Master's in school administration at UNC Charlotte. Since 2012, he has taught all science subjects at his Alma Mater, A.L. Brown High School, where he graduated in 1978. He was a Kannapolis Wonder to the core and enjoyed teaching the new generations.

Spending time with his family and anything baseball was Barry's favorite. He began umpiring in the Kannapolis Dixie Youth organization over 30 years ago. For the past 15 years, he was invited annually to umpire in the Dixie Youth/Diamond Youth Baseball World Series and made lifelong friends across the southeastern states. He also was active as high school and college umpire and board member in the Carolina's Baseball Umpires Association. In 2023, he was awarded the Dick Knox Distinguished Service Award for officials by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Barry is survived and dearly missed by his wife Ute, his brother Earl B. (E.B.) Lentz Jr. and wife Lisa, children Sigrun Kraehe, Emily Sparnell, Jessica Waters and husband Andy, and Coy Sparnell; nieces Carmen Lentz Smith and Taylor Austin Wetter, and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his infant daughter Elizabeth.

Mount Olivet United Methodist Church was his home church where he served many years as the chair of the Administrative Council and the United Methodist Men's group. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the church.

Visitation for Barry will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Whitley’s Funeral Home, 1748 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis, NC 28083.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, Kannapolis. Burial to follow at Mt. Olivet UMC Cemetery.

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