LEBANON, Va. – Wiley Barclay Cantrell, 78, of the Mill Creek section died Saturday morning at his home.
Born Jan. 26, 1930, in Cleveland, a son of the late George W. Cantrell and the late Dixie Blevins Cantrell, he attended school in Cleveland. He joined the U.S. Army on March 22, 1951, and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was of the Baptist faith and was converted in a foxhole in Korea. He was a member of the Lebanon VFW Post 9864 and was a member of the honor guard of the post.
He met the love of his life, Jewel, at an Old Baptist revival service in Russell County, they were married on Aug. 6, 1951. Wiley was an avid fisherman and hunter and also enjoyed NASCAR racing and bluegrass music. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and never met a stranger.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Ruby Mullins, and a brother, John Cantrell.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Willie Jewel Cantrell; two daughters, Annette Leonard and companion Don Hash, Abingdon, and Teresa Zuber and husband Nicky, Glade Spring; two sons, Woody Cantrell and fiancée Estelle Linkous and her daughter, Kerensa, all of Cleveland, and Wiley Cantrell Jr. and wife Mona, Lebanon; three grandchildren, who were the pride and joy of his life, Jeromy Cantrell, Wiley Cantrell III and Alexis Cantrell; a brother, Charlie Cantrell and wife Ruby, Cleveland; six sisters, Maggie Jordan, Castlewood, Rosalene Dorton, Tazewell, Nell Purcell and husband Arthur, Lebanon, Lottie Mullins, Bassett, Eva Cantrell, Cleveland, and Sadie Meade and husband Ferrell, Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, in the Combs Funeral Service chapel, with the Rev. Roger Phillips and the Rev. Virgil Musick officiating. Entombment will follow in the Ketron Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, where full military honors will be conducted by the Lebanon VFW Post 9864.
Serving as pallbearers will be Giles Helbert, Chris Mullins, Clay Cantrell, Randy Cantrell, Jeromy Cantrell, Ronnie Mullins, Dan Dorton and George Jordan. Honorary pallbearers will be John Hobson, Jack Blankenship, Ferrell Meade, Bud Mullins and Roy Lee Rasnake.
The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at the funeral home.
Combs Funeral Service, 291 Fincastle Road, Lebanon, VA 24266, (276) 889-4444, is serving the Cantrell family.
Published in Bristol Herald Courier on November 2, 2008