Obituary

Robert (Bob) Thomas Cantrell, 89, died Tuesday, December 10th, 2024, at the Lee’s Summit Medical Center. Bob was born on May 27th, 1935, in Kingston, Georgia, to Tom Cantrell and Bessie (Buford) Cantrell. He was raised on a cotton farm with his four sisters (Betty, Joyce, Gloria, and Jean) and three brothers (Pete, Bill, and Joel). 

At the young age of 16, he answered the call to ministry. After attending his first year at Mercer University, he joined the U.S. Army and served for 2 years in Texas and Michigan.

At the end of his army career, he returned to Mercer University and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature. He studied for one year at New Orleans Theological Seminary, where he met his wife of 63 years, Ruth Elaine Harris, when they both took a church music class, her teaching him music direction and him teaching her about the theology of the hymns. After they were married in the Jamestown Baptist Church in Jamestown, MO on May 27th, 1961, they spent a summer ministering to a migrant community in Michigan before moving to Independence, MO. There, Bob attended Midwestern Theological Seminary, receiving Bachelor of Divinity (BD) and Master of Divinity (MDiv) degrees. He also completed postgraduate work at Eden Seminary and Duke University School of Divinity.

He was ordained by the Middle Cherokee Baptist Association in Georgia and served at the following churches: Baptist Church in Georgia (9 years), St. Peter’s Evangelical United Church of Christ (UCC) in Billings, MO (4 years), St. Paul’s UCC in Gerald, MO (15 years), Immanuel UCC in New Franklin, MO (4 years), Ebenezer Stone Church in Gerald, MO (4 years), and St. John’s Mantel in Washington, MO (2 years). Along with serving as a minister, he was active in the Missouri UCC conference, being elected and serving as moderator for one year.

Toward the end of Bob’s career and after his retirement, he and Ruth spent many years traveling worldwide, including trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Russia, Germany, Austria, the Holy Lands, Italy, a Mediterranean Capital Cruise, Australia, New Zealand, and Fuji. Bob had a resonant singing voice, often heard at church alongside the organ music he loved or when he serenaded young children. He spent hours reading, with his favorite subjects being history and theology. Christmas time was always a highlight for Bob. He enjoyed listening to Christmas carols, receiving his annual fruitcake, and building his collection of Santa Claus figurines. He often spent his summers watching baseball and had a particular fondness for indulging in ice cream on a sunny day. Bob enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, frequently bragging about them and sharing how much he loved them. He always had a special bond with his pets—Greta, Matia, and Shadow—who were beloved companions and always by his side.

Bob is survived by his wife, Ruth (Harris) Cantrell; children, Todd (Pam) Cantrell, Lisa (Terry) Ray, and Jeremy Cantrell; grandchildren, Aaron Cantrell, Alyssa (Billy) Weldon, Jessi (Jordan) Kientzy, Connor Ray, and Mike Shannon; and great-grandson, Atlas Kientzy.

The funeral arrangements are as follows: the visitation will be held on December 27th at 10:00 am at Langsford Funeral Home, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am. The interment will take place at 2:30 pm at the Evangelical Cemetery of California, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Summit Church.