Gilbert W. Bentley Jr.

Memorial services for Gilbert W. Bentley Jr., 74, of Portales will be held at 1:00 PM, Sat., Feb 7, 2026, at the First Baptist Church in Portales, NM with Rev. Blake Bentley officiating. Mason Bentley, Thatcher Bentley, Orion Bentley, Judah Bentley, Dr. Steven Gamble and John Birdsong have been named as honorary pallbearers.

Gilbert W. Bentley Jr. was born June 12, 1951, in Monahans, TX to Marjorine (Hatcher) and Gilbert W Bentley, and passed from this life into the arms of his savior on the evening of Jan. 13, 2026, in Amarillo, TX. His early childhood was spent in Wink, TX living with his parents and three older sisters before the family moved to Kermit, TX in 1956. There in Kermit, he met the love of his life, Deborah Holamon. They both graduated Kermit High School together in 1970. After graduation, Gilbert enlisted in the US Air Force and was sent to basic training in San Antonio, TX. After completing basic, Gilbert and Deborah were married on Aug. 16, 1970, in Kermit. Immediately thereafter he was shipped to Sumter, SC and posted at Shaw’s AFB from 1970 to 1974.

Following his discharge from the US Air Force, they moved back to Kermit where he began working for Transwestern Pipelines. His job would take them to several locations in Texas and New Mexico before eventually settling down in Portales, NM. Gilbert worked for Transwestern for over 40 years and retired in 2017. They called Portales home for 30 years and this is where they chose to stay.

Mr. Bentley was a faithful and active member of First Baptist Church. He and his wife loved camping, riding motorcycles, golfing, and being with family. In their retired years, they traveled frequently through the United States and Canada. They were by each other’s side for 55 years.

He is survived by their two sons and daughter in-law, Bryan Bentley of Amarillo, TX and Rev. Blake and Elisa Bentley of Edmonton, Canada; five grandchildren Mason, Brydie, Thatcher, Orion and Judah Bentley; three sisters Liz White, Sally Wright, and Carrie Sealy. He was proceeded in death by his wife Deborah and both parents.