Dr. Craig Gordon Cantrell, beloved husband of Gloria Wallace Cantrell, died Sunday, March 11, 2012 in Gadsden, at the age of 83. He was born in Gadsden on December 14, 1928. He graduated from Marion Military Institute in 1945 as Valedictorian. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Tulane University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Tulane University Medical School at the age of 22 where he was a member of the Nu Sigma Nu medical fraternity. He completed his internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1952.
He served in the U.S. Army with the Second Infantry Division for eighteen months in Korea. He was inducted into the 38th Parallel Medical Society of Korea. Upon return to the United States, he was an instructor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and Chief Resident of Medicine at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He began his practice of medicine in Gadsden in 1957 as a board certified internal medicine doctor of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Cantrell practiced medicine for fifty years. Through his unselfish devotion to patients he has honored God, his community, and his profession.
Dr. Cantrell served as past President of the medical staff of the Baptist Memorial Hospital and the Holy Name of Jesus Hospital in Gadsden. He was a past President of the Etowah County Board of Health. He served on the board of directors of the American National Bank, AmSouth Bank, First Federal Savings and Loan, and Southern Bank Company. He was past President of the Alabama Angus Cattleman’s Association. And in recognition of his outstanding work was awarded Breeder of the Year in 1994. He was a deacon of First Baptist Church Gadsden and a member of the Supreme Court Coffee Club. He enjoyed oil painting and his art collection was displayed at the Cultural Arts Center in 2008. He has been a guest lecturer on the life of Winston Churchill at the University of Alabama Gadsden Center (Ollie Program).
Dr. Cantrell was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Cantrell, son Craig G. Cantrell Jr., and his dog, Shadow. He is survived by his wife of fifty five years, Gloria Wallace Cantrell, daughter Catherine Cantrell Ellis, husband Dr. Kenneth Clay Ellis Jr.; daughter Dr. Cynthia Cantrell Walker husband, Thomas Randolph Walker; grandchildren, Dr. Cynthia Ellis Hill, husband Dr. Mark Logan Hill, Dr. Catherine Ellis Haynie, husband Dr. Brant Daniel Haynie, Cantrell Clay Ellis, Catherine Cantrell Walker, Claire Cantrell Walker, and Thomas R. Walker Jr.; great grandchildren, Ellis Daniel Haynie and Mark Logan Hill Jr.; sister, Joan Cantrell Inzer; niece and nephews, James Clarence Inzer III (Ann), Joan Inzer Cash (Tommy), Craig Gordon Inzer (Mary); cousin, Francis Cantrell.
Pallbearers are Craig Gordon Inzer Jr., John Medlin Inzer, James Clarence Inzer IV, Thomas Taylor Cash III, Ben Larkin, Spence Morano and Doug Coltharp. Honorary Pallbearers are Dr. Rayford Smith, Dr. Lucian Newman Jr., Mr. Hoyt Washburn, Mr. Jim Christopher, Dr. Webb Sledge, Dr. Noah Dean Miller, Mr. Michael Erwin, Mr. Gates Little, Dr. Thomas Dowling III, Mrs. Annese Ligan and members of the Supreme Court Coffee Club.
The family would like to send a special thanks to Dr. Elquis Castillo, Dr. K.J. Shah, Dr. G.H. Patel and Dr. Robert Cerfolio. Also, special thanks to the medical staff at Riverview Regional Medical Center, Gadsden Regional Medical Center, and UAB thoracic surgery unit.
The funeral service will be at First Baptist Church of Gadsden at 1 P.M. Friday. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 11:00 A.M. A graveside service will follow at Forrest Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church Gadsden, 235 South Fifth Street, 35901.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.11.6