LEE YOUNGHI CANTRELL Lee Younghi Cantrell, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully at her home in Albemarle County, Virginia on Saturday, May 18, 2013 after a long illness. She was 79. Born on October 8, 1933 in Seoul, Korea, Lee was the daughter of the late Yun Bok Lee and Bok Hung Han. Lee is survived by her loving husband, Robert W. Cantrell, MD; and her four children, Mark Lee Cantrell of Boulder, Colorado; Elizabeth Lee Cantrell of Crozet, Virginia, Victoria Lee Cantrell Gagner and her husband Paul G. Gagner of Boulder, Colorado; and Robert W. Cantrell, Jr of Ruckersville, Virginia; two grandchildren Luke Layton Cantrell of Crozet, Virginia and Katherine Lee Gagner of Boulder, Colorado; and one sister Joni Purdy and her husband Fred Purdy of Falls Church, VA. One brother, Jung Kill Lee, predeceased her. After Lee attended the Ewha Womans school in Seoul, she worked as a radio and television news broadcaster. In 1960, she joined the Voice of the United Nations Command initially in Korea, later at headquarters in Okinawa. Her broadcasts were beamed into North Korea. In addition to Lee's great beauty and vocal quality was an even greater artistic talent and warm and generous personality that, along with a ready smile, put all those she met at ease. She was a gifted artist working in mediums to include oil, acrylic, Oriental brush painting, pastels, pencil and ink drawings, and sculpture. She exhibited her art in Okinawa, San Diego and Washington, D.C. She created several bronze busts one of which is on display in the Rare Books section of the UVA Medical Library. In 1962, she met Robert W. Cantrell, MD, a Naval Medical Officer with the Fleet Marine Force. They were married in April 1964 in Okinawa. After a honeymoon in Hong Kong, they returned to the U.S. in May 1964. They lived in Bethesda, MD until 1969, then moved to San Diego, CA. In 1973, Lee was filled with the Holy Spirit and began an intimate walk with Jesus Christ after being divinely healed from a severe debilitating disease. In 1976, she moved to Charlottesville, VA. Lee's goal was to follow the Holy Scriptures and help people know the love of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. She joined Women's Aglow Fellowship and became President. She was also a frequent speaker to Christian women's groups throughout Virginia. Lee founded the Korean Community Church in Charlottesville and was very active in Grace Christian Fellowship, a ministry to college students. In the early 2000s, Lee was stricken with several serious illnesses but persevered with great courage and spirit while continuing her ministry until she could no longer travel. Lee will be interred in a private, family service at Arlington National Cemetery. A celebration of her life is scheduled for Sunday, June 2, 2013 at 3 p.m. at Covenant Church 1025 Rio Road East, Charlottesville, Virginia with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Christian Fellowship (Servants Ministry P.O. Box 38, Ivy, VA 22945) or Hope Community Center (313 11th Street NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903). Three words sum up the life of Lee Cantrell: Faith, Hope and Love Three words sum up the life of Lee Cantrell: Faith, Hope and Love

Published in The Washington Post on May 26, 2013