droid 2 text entry hangs

I have a droid 2 with 2.3xx(latest release) and yesterday it started to have issues with text entry in gmail, the default txt app and contact search in the phone app. I deleted a few apps since to see if it was a memory issue, no change. The signature is that when I start typing after a few characters, the entries freeze and then after 15-20 seconds the OS says the app isnt responding and asks for the standard "force close; wait...." options. If I hit wait it doesn't change, FC will close and will delete the txt I entered. I think it is a common part of the droid OS that is failing (the "txt entry piece") are there options to reload this? these are both locked apps on the droid 2 and am going into the verizion store today, but I dont think they are gonna have a solution. Any other ideas??