James “Jim” Lee Lentz, 88, of Statesville, N.C., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the S. Mitchell Mack Hospice House.

Jim was born September 10, 1937, in Iredell County to the late Minor A. Lentz and Blanche Johnson Lentz. He was a graduate of Cool Springs High School, and he attended Diamond Hill Baptist Church and Chapel Hill United Methodist Church.

Jim was a fourth-generation jersey dairy farmer. He was a recipient of The Century Farm Program in 2022 for Lentz Farms, established in 1849. He was also a proud member of the Iredell-Statesville Coin Club and the ASCS.

In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by his sisters, Becky Lentz Mitchell and Ann Lentz Lockamy.

Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Scott Lentz (Tracy); granddaughter, Laura Rollings (Jake); grandson, Joe Lentz; great granddaughters, Kate, Emily, and Claire Rollings; and special friend, Peggy Stafford.

The family will visit with friends from 5 until 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, at Troutman Funeral Home. Funeral services for Jim will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church with Pastor Garrett Brown and John Stevenson officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Todd Lockamy, Jake Rollings, Todd Hooks, Bart Clark, Jeffrey Robertson and Chad McCurdy. Honorary pallbearer is Eric Mitchell.

The family of Jim Lentz would like to give special thanks to his caregivers.

Arrangements for James are in the care of Troutman Funeral Home.