Opened in 2005 and quickly a community landmark, Fairmont High School’s $8.8 million, 4,300-seat James S. Trent Arena bears his name. The arena was part of a larger $102 million construction process that encompassed the entire Kettering School District. It is owned and operated by the Kettering School District.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Sunday, followed immediately by a memorial service.
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The visitation and memorial service will be held in Trent Arena on the Fairmont High School Campus. Interment will follow at City of Kettering Cemetery with military honors and Fairmont High School alumni as pallbearers.
Trent requested that memorial donations may be made to Fairmont Athletics or the Kettering City Schools Music Department.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia; sons, Allen (Peggy) and Brian Trent; grandson, Eric (Jordan) Trent; grandchildren, Paige, Tony, Eric, Nevadah, Denver, and London; great grandson, Trevor; brothers, Arvel (Donna) and David Trent; sisters, Elizabeth Hillman and Sue Byrnes, brother and sister-in-law, Tim and Sandra Haymaker.
“The Kettering City Schools lost a true advocate of public education in Mr. James Trent,” said Kettering Superintendent Scott Inskeep.
Trent was an avid supporter of arts and athletics in Kettering, Inskeep said.
“Mr. Trent served the district for more than six decades as a teacher, principal, superintendent and board member, and he always put students first,” Inskeep said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Trent family.”
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A Navy veteran who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Marshall University, Trent spent time as an administrator and adjunct instructor at Wright State University. He loved his close relationship with the Catholic schools in Kettering, according to his obituary provided by the Morris Sons Funeral Home.
Trent also was responsible for strategic planning as a consultant for more than 100 school systems in six states. He was the 2004 grand marshal of Kettering’s Holiday at Home festival.
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