William Arthur "Bill" Cantrell

Services for William Arthur “Bill” Cantrell, Sr., 79, of Lufkin, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at Denman Avenue Baptist Church with Bro. Charles Roberts and Bro. Kevin Roy officiating. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Mr. Cantrell was born November 1, 1934 in Emporia, Kansas, the son of the late Helen Gertrude (Cochran) and William Martin Cantrell. He passed away Saturday, April 5, 2014 at a local nursing facility.

He was employed with Lufkin Industries for 43 plus years and retired and went back to work for another ten years as a consultant. He retired as the corporate quality manager for Lufkin Industries. He travelled the world setting up plants for Lufkin Industries. He was very family oriented and loved his children, grandkids and great-grandkids. He was a long time member of Denman Avenue Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He served on every building committee that Denman Avenue ever had. He was a Sunday school director. Bill loved sports and was an avid reader.

Mr. Cantrell graduated from El Dorado High School and attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he met his future wife, Shirley. He graduated from LaTourneau University School of Engineering in Longview.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Shirley Cantrell of Lufkin; daughter and son-in-law, Janet and David Havard of Diboll; daughter, Julie Cantrell; son and daughter-in-law, William “Butch” and Terry Cantrell, all of Lufkin; granddaughter, Jill Havard, friend Jessica Henson; grandsons, Joshua Havard and Cody Havard; great-granddaughters, Sierra and Spring Havard; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Katherine Letcher; brother, Oscar Carver; sister, Betty Watkins; a brother who died at birth; his father and step-mother, Minnie Storer, who were killed by a tornado June 10, 1958 in Kansas.

Pallbearers will be Jill Havard, Josh Havard, Cody Havard, Mitchell O’Neill, Ron Lusk and David Tankersley.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacon Body of Denman Avenue Baptist Church.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Cantrell’s memory may be made to Denman Avenue Baptist Church, 1807 E. Denman Avenue, Lufkin, TX 75901; Hospice in the Pines, 1504 W. Frank Avenue, Lufkin, TX 75904; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater East Texas Chapter, P. O. Box 630636, Nacogdoches, TX 75963-0636.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.