Howard Leroy Cantrell

Howard Leroy Cantrell died in Wesley Woods Health and Rehab Nursing Home in Waco, Texas, on February 15, 2017 due to complications from Alzheimer's. He was 87 years old.

Howard was born on November 23, 1929 in Portland, Oregon to his parents, Howard Jesse and Lena L Cantrell. He joined the Air Force May 5, 1948, and served in the Weather Squadron in the Alaska Territory, as well as the Hawaii Territory.  He married Mary Ellen Walters on October 7, 1951 in Dallas, Texas. They were married for 63 years. Howard was sent to Vietnam for overseas duty in 1967. He retired from the Air Force on June 30, 1968, and then pursued jobs in the private industry. PHILCO Ford- New Hampshire, NASA- Houston,  LCRA- Bastrop, and Fayette Power Plant- La Grange, where he retired.

Howard was an outdoors person. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. Howard also loved dancing, traveling, cave spelunking, and beach combing. He participated in bowling tournaments and leagues in Giddings, Texas and he helped to start horseshoe clubs in different cities all over Texas. He competed in horseshoes at the Local, State and National levels. Howard was a part of the Texas Senior Games where he competed in bowling, horseshoes, washers, and he pole vaulted in track and field.

Howard is survived by his son, Lee Cantrell of Colorado, sisters, Barbara and her husband Louis Cantrell of Angleton, Marlene and her husband Raymond Stark of Bastrop, Dot and her husband, Sonny Crane of Elm Mott, and granddaughter Rachel and her husband Travis Diestel of New Braunfels.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Lena Cantrell, his wife Mary Cantrell, and his daughter Leslie Cantrell Rice.
 

Howard will be buried in Burnet, Texas on February 25, 2017 2:30 P.M. at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park.  All are welcome to attend and celebrate his life.

Lakeland Hills Memorial Park

4219 Park Road 4 S.

Burnet, Texas 78611

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