DeVere Craven Lentz
June 3, 1929 ~ June 15, 2020
Born in:
Buncombe Co., NC
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
DeVere Craven Lentz, Jr., 91, of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away on Monday, June 15, 2020 with his family keeping vigil outside his window at The Elizabeth House at Four Seasons in Flat Rock. He was born June 3, 1929, the eldest child of Viola Russell and DeVere C. Lentz, Sr. He was a graduate of Lee Edwards High School, Asheville Biltmore Junior College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of North Carolina School of Law.
Following in his father’s footsteps, he practiced law in Asheville for 52 years. DeVere loved his work and gave it his all. He was voted “Best Lawyer to Have When Hauled into Court” in the Mountain Express’ Second Annual “Best of” Edition. Always ready with a joke, he called himself the Court Jester and contended that “if the judges are laughing, they may not hurt me as much.”
He loved his free time as well, especially when it was spent on the lake or behind the wheel of his beloved motorhome. He was not one to postpone joy, he believed weekends were for going somewhere, and he was always ready for a trip, a new adventure, or a good meal. Most of all, DeVere loved his family and was always there to celebrate their successes, share in their sorrows and fix their problems.
The family extends appreciation to the staff at Aston Park Health Care Center who cared for him, laughed with him and loved and appreciated him for the bigger-than-life person that he always was.
In addition to his parents, DeVere was predeceased by his sister, Betty Jean Mendelsohn, daughter, Kimberly Lentz, and many friends and colleagues. He is survived by his wife, Carole Lambert Lentz; daughters, Suzanne Lentz Wells and Deborah Lentz Myron; sons, Michael R. Lentz, B. Todd Lentz (Courtney) and S. Mark Lentz; step daughter, Julie Waldrop Wise (Todd); grandchildren, Lucy, Liam, Penny and Wyatt, Lauren Wise, Devan Wise, and Joe Shively, Jr.; niece Tami Clare (John) and nephew, Todd Mendelsohn.
Graveside services will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, June 24th at Lewis Memorial Park located at 415 Beaverdam Road, Asheville, NC.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of DeVere Lentz to Aston Park Health Care Center, 380 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.
Services
Graveside Service: June 24, 2020 11:00 am
Lewis Memorial Park
415 Beaverdam Road
Asheville, NC 28804
252-5081
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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Carole, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Nancy Cooper
My thoughts and prayers!
Todd,
You and your family are in my thoughts.
Hold onto all your wonderful memories to get through your grief.
Theresa Dillingham
DeVere Lentz is an Asheville Legend. The Man, The Myth, The Legend. He will be sorely missed in the community. So many fond stories to remember and pass along.
To all the Lentz family my love and sympathy. He was one of the best I have ever known. Many memories. A great loss to all.
One of a kind. He will be missed terribly. May Gad give you peace during these sad times.
To the Family: My prayers for comfort & peace during this time of sorrow. Much Love to you all. I will always remember
Devere fondly… He was always kind and good to me. He will be missed. Love you
Sorry for your loss, the entire Lentz family is in my prayers.
My condolences to the family, thought and prayers are with you guys!
Dear Carole, Todd, Suzanne, Debbie, Mike and Mark, I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. I will never forget all the fun we had with Uncle DeVere! Much Love, Tami and Todd
Mrs. Lentz,
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. May God give you comfort and peace. We luv you. Bob & Tammy Wyatt
Love to the family and to my St Genevive friend Susanne. I saw Mr. Lentz often in the past at Aston Park – His room was always beautiful
Lynn Patton
I am so sad to read of DeVere’s death. The last time we saw him was at Shindig on the Green; needless to say, he was enjoying the music and dance!
I claim DeVere as my cousin; his mother was the sister of my Daddy’s brother’s wife!!!
Anyway….he was around for some family Sunday dinners on Panola Street. I thought he was larger than life! His work as one of Asheville’s noted attorneys is well documented.
My sincere condolences to Carole and the entire Lentz family.
Devere was a great friend and attorney. I had great admiration for and was an honor to have known him. My condolences for Todd and entire family. Stan Carter
Words can not express the sadness I have for your family during this time. Devere was such a unique person. So intelligent. Knew a lot about everything. Our thoughts and prayers have been with you since we heard and will continue in the coming days for peace and memories to fill your broken hearts.
I’m praying for you as you grieve your dad. Hoping you are all holding on to the wonderful memories you shared with him and the huge impact he’d made on each of your hearts. I love you all
My deepest sympathy to Todd and all his family! He was a strong man and fought to win. So grateful for what he did for my family and friends. God bless and comfort his family.
Mr Lentz came into my life and the life of some very close friends during the summer of 1984 when we met his Son Todd at a mandatory Summer school session at Mars Hill College for those of us who were well below the genius level. He welcomed us into his home with open arms and his trademark smile. We all immediately took to him and respected him. He was very charismatic but carried himself in a way that was equally humble yet confident. He was an impressive man who lived his life in a very enviable way. The way we should all strive to emulate. One minute he was in a courtroom or litigating elsewhere. Then he was at his lake house or on the road to Chapel Hill (a school Todd and I could never get in to). Then you would find him in a dingy basement below his law office full of video game machines and billiards tables offering a livelihood for a childhood friend (I believe his name was Buddy) who was not as fortunate as Mr Lentz. The message is he never forgot his friends and always stayed true to his family and his roots. My life was certainly made better because I was lucky enough to call Mr Lentz my friend. I just remembered (and I can say this since the statute of limitations has run). Mr Lentz wrote a letter to a great Agency that eventually hired me. I wish I could say the letter was based on fact but it was very pursuasive and made me better than I really was. Just like he made everyone around him. God Bless You Mr Lentz. Dan
What a special man he was. I loved working at DeVere Lentz and Associates.
He was very generous and a one-of-a-kind lawyer.
I was honored to know him.
Thought and prayers to the family.