Mr. Raul Cantero

Mr. Raul Cantero was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Raul always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Raul was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Raul was born on June 5, 1940 at Los Angeles County Hospital in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Manuel and Emma Cantero. Raul was raised in Highland Park, California. Always able to express himself well, Raul possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Raul was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Raul was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Raul was raised with twelve siblings. He had six younger brothers, David, Arnold, Edward, Daniel, Richard and Robert and six younger sisters, Susan, Martha, Roberta, Annette, Cynthia and Marie. Raul had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Raul was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1959. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite classes in high school were Horticulture and the School Newspaper. He enjoyed running track and earned Second Place in the All City Championship C. I. F.

Friends and acquaintances found Raul an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Raul was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. Later in life, he became friends with Bill and Holly Dimes, Mike and Shannon Buttram, Rick and Dee Schofer, and Mike and Sandy Wilson. Raul also had a very special friendship with Jim Mussenden, his former brother-in-law and Godfather to his son, Raul, whom he always thought fondly of through the years.

On November 28, 1981, Raul married Lois Nadine Walsh at a chapel in Norwalk, California. Raul was attentive to Nadine's feelings, and he charmed Nadine and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Raul was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Raul identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Raul was blessed with one child, one son, Raul Arthur Cantero and through his marriage to Nadine, he became a stepfather to her teenage son David. Through a prior marriage, Raul also had a stepdaughter, Gina whom he raised from a little girl. He took great pride and joy in seeing her grow up into an intelligent, self confident young woman. Raul always thought of her as "his daughter". Raul and Nadine were also blessed with two grandchildren, Ethan and Ryan Cantero.

Raul was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Raul’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Raul was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Raul could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. Raul started working at an early age, around 7 years old, he sold newspapers so that he could give money to his mother to help buy food. As he got older his primary occupation was Steel Sales. He was employed for 44 years in the Steel Industry. He owned his own business three times during his career.

Raul was an Army veteran. Raul was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He was in the Army from 1964 until 1966. He was a cook and in the 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles", they referred to themselves as "The Puking Buzzards". Raul saw action for one year in Viet Nam. He achieved the rank of SP5. He received several awards including a Expert Rifle, Viet Nam Service Medal and a Parachute Badge. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

Raul enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in leisurely activities. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were racing, he loved playing the horses and eating out, he enjoyed having a great meal at a nice restaurant. He was content to enjoy his interests alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Raul was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, Raul ran track. Recreational sports included golf. Raul was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Raul was an avid Lakers fan.

Raul was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Raul worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. In high school, Raul was a member of the Letterman's Club.

Raul was a generous man who prized that same quality in others. Politically, Raul was a Republican.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Raul truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included many trips to Las Vegas and a trip to Hawaii.

Raul always said he wanted to work until he was 75 years old. His ill health prevented him from reaching that goal. He was very disappointed when he could no longer work and had to retire in 2009. He had worked for so many years learning at a very young age to work to support his family. Although retirement was very hard for him to accept it allowed him to discover great joy in helping to take care of his grandsons and spending time with them.

Raul passed away on June 18, 2010 at Brookside Health Center in Redlands, California. Raul had congestive heart failure. He is survived by his wife, Nadine; son, Raul and his wife Sarah; grandchildren, Ethan and Ryan; and stepchildren, David and Gina; and a very special niece, Lisa, whom he loved very much.. Services were held at Weaver Mortuary Chapel in Beaumont, California. Raul was laid to rest in Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Raul was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Raul had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Mr. Raul Cantero.

Arrangements under the direction of Weaver Mortuary, Beaumont, CA.