Obituary for Dr. Constance P. Dent

Constance P. "Connie" Dent, Ph.D., 95, of Rockland Township, died Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in the in-patient hospice unit of Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.  She was the spouse of Ann T. Gundry, Ed.D., whom she married April 17, 2016.  Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Joseph D. and Edith (Hastings - Crane) Dent.  Dr. Dent was a member of Unitarian Universalist Church, Reading. Connie received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Union County; her Master's Degree in Psychology from Temple University, Philadelphia; and her Doctorate degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University, State College. Professor Dent first worked in the counseling department at University of Maryland, College Park, MD; then in the Psychology Department at Glassboro College, now Rowen University, Glassboro, NJ.  She served as Dean of Women at Lebanon Valley College, Annville; and at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, before beginning her career as a Professor of Psychology, for over 32 years, at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown.  While at Kutztown, Connie was integral in founding the Women's Awareness Group, which remains today as the FMLA. She also, along with Dr. Richard Law and others, co-founded KU's Women's Studies Program, which thrives today.  As Professor Emeritus, Constance remained in touch with students and faculty by visiting the campus regularly.  Connie also had a private Psychology practice throughout her educational career that continued until her death.

Constance and Reverend Paul Hoh were the founders of Berks County Prison Society, now Berks Connections/Pretrial Services. Connie continued to serve on their Board of Directors for many years. Fervently concerned with ecology, Connie generously supported Wetlands Institute, Stone Harbor, NJ, Berks Nature, Reading, and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton. Constance loved to travel the world and enjoyed bird watching.

Connie is survived by her spouse, Dr. Ann T. Gundry.  She was predeceased by a sister Jane C. Dent on April 20, 2016.

A visitation will be held on Friday, June 8, 2018, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. in Ludwick Funeral Homes, Inc., 333 Greenwich Street, Kutztown. A memorial service celebrating Connie's life will follow beginning at 1:30 p.m. with Reverend Dr. Sandra R. Fees, officiating.  Inurnment will be private at the convenience of the family.

The family requests contributions be made in Connie's memory to Unitarian Universalist Church, 416 Franklin Street, Reading, PA 19602; Wetlands Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., Stone Harbor, NJ 08247; Berks Nature, 575 Bernadine Street, Reading, PA 19607; or Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, PA 19529.

Ludwick Funeral Homes, Inc., Kutztown, is in charge of arrangements. Memories, photographs and condolences may be shared at www.ludwickfh.com