J.D. CANTRELL, JR.

On Monday, September 18, J.D. Cantrell, Jr., died at the Laurels in Norton, VA of natural causes.

He was ninety-five years old. J.D. (Poppy J.D. to his grand and great-grandchildren) was born on June 18, 1928, in Pound, Virginia to John Dee Cantrell Sr. and Hannah Naomi Mullins Cantrell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Italy Ellen Short, Lottie Bernice Willis, Mildred Ann Cantrell Rose, and his brothers Clayton Thurston and James Bruce Cantrell, Sr.

J.D. is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Dove Cantrell; his children Robert Jeffrey Cantrell (and wife Eileen) and Byron Dee Cantrell (and wife Carmen); grandchildren Whitney Cantrell Bender, J. Matthew Cantrell, Lindsey Cantrell and Caitlin Cantrell; great grandchildren Lila Rhea Bender, Alena Eileen Bender, Roan Oliver Cantrell, Carver Ray Cantrell, and Zinnia Sue Cantrell. J.D. is also survived by several beloved nieces and nephews.

J.D. graduated from Christopher Gist High School in Pound,Virginia, in 1948 (where he was an outstanding basketball player), from Emory and Henry College in 1951 with a bachelor's degree, and from the University of Virginia with an M.Ed. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War.

J.D. married his beloved wife, Betty Jo, on March 8, 1954. He then taught at Pound High School for several years, where he also coached basketball and baseball for one year. He resigned his teaching position in the early 1960's to work full-time for State Farm Insurance until retiring in 1980; he and his wife also owned Robo's Drive-In.

J.D. dedicated his life to his family, his friends and his community. He was a member of the Fairview Old Regular Baptist Church in Pound, and he served on several civic and local boards, including the Mountain Empire Community College Board, the Wise County School Board, a local hospital board, and was a member of the Pound Lions Club. J.D. enjoyed gardening and traveling, having visited forty-nine of the fifty United States. He will be remembered always as a loving and giving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Funeral services will be conducted at 12:00 noon, Friday, September 22 in the Baker Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Willie Cantrell officiating. The family will receive friends from 11 :00 a.m. until time of services. Burial and committal services will follow in the John Dee Cantrell Cemetery-Pound, VA where family members and friends serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc., PO Box 888, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.

The family would like to acknowledge several individuals who provided such kind care for J.D. over the past few years: Diane and Chris Sproles, Anita Blanton, and all of the workers at the Laurels.

Baker Funeral Home-Pound, VA is serving the family of J. D. Cantrell, Jr.

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