My Dad's childhood friend Ken Conley, sent me your message. I didnt see where to add this info about my Father, Chester O. Cantrell, who graduated from Jenkins High in 1943. he then joined the Navy in WWII, served in the Pacific as a third radioman till war ended. he passed away August 11, 2012. though he died from double pnuemonia, i was with him when he passed, the real culprit was Alzheimer. Althought he couldnt recall what he had for lunch that same afternoon, he
always remembered and sang the Jenkins school song to the Cavaliers.
As you can see from the attached Obit, which i wrote for the Stoctkon Record, CA, my father came a long way from Mud Flats (Mudtown), Jenkins.
He kept some of his Jenkins report cards. mostly A's. i also have his graduation collars from UK and Long Beach State U. not at all sure what to do with them.
thank you,
Tanya Cantrell
703 481 5388 [ a native Californian, i now live in reston, va. & work in DC]
Chester O. Cantrell -------------
Former Lincoln Unified School District Administrator, Senior Seasonal Ranger at Yellowstone National Park, and community
volunteer, Chester O. Cantrell died on August 11 of pneumonia. He was 87.
Raised in Jenkins, Kentucky, Mr. Cantrell honorably served in the U.S. Navy during WWII on the U.S.S. Rudyard. After the war, Mr. Cantrell attended numerous institutions of higher education, including a summer at the University of the Americas in Mexico City, University of Utah, University of Kentucky, and California State U. Long Beach.
He began his teaching career in Kentucky, and then moved with his wife and daughter to Southern California
where he taught in Anaheim. He moved to Stockton in 1966, where, as a Child Psychologist and Director of Pupil Personnel, he spent 22 years establishing and developing special education, gifted, bilingual, and counseling programs throughout the growing district. Mr. Cantrell loved working with students.
After retiring from LUSD, Mr. Cantrell provided special education services to Ripon
School District. Mr. Cantrell was active in St. Anne's Episcopal Church where he
served in various positions, including head of their Sunday school program and providing services to
residents in convalescent hospitals, and worked with other churches in downtown Stockton. He
also taught CPR and First Aid for the American Red Cross, was a member of Toastmasters and
Lions Club, and a Stockton Unified School District special education volunteer. Further, he volunteered
at Hospice House of San Joaquin, working with children who lost a
loved one.
As a national park ranger in Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park for 35 summers, and working
nine months for LUSD, Mr. Cantrell often said he had the best of both worlds. In addition to clearing
and patrolling trails, as a Ranger, he also provided first aid, ambulance, fire fighting, law enforcement
services, and information to park visitors. He took in injured birds, which his family nursed back
to health. He enjoyed mentoring younger rangers and hiking throughout the region, including in
the Grand Tetons and Beartooth Mountain Ranges.
He is survived by his wife Reva, two daughters, three sisters and three brothers.
A memorial service will take place at St. Anne's Episcopal Church on Lincoln Road, at 10 am on September
22, 2012.
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