Excerpts from obituary published in San Diego Union Tribune on 6/14/2020:

William Thomas “Bill” Cantrell was born September 16, 1935 in Clovis, New Mexico.  His birth name was William Dallas Thomas which he later changed to William Thomas Cantrell, using the surname of his step-father.  Bill was a responsible person at a young age, and was selling newspapers on a street corner in Ontario, California, announcing the end of World War II.  After a series of jobs and graduation from high school in 1953, Bill joined the Navy in 1955 and served for 20-years until May 1975, retiring with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.  He remarked many times over the years that joining the Navy was the best thing he ever did.  After his Navy service he owned and operated Foothills Rooter Service for many years and then retired from La Mesa-Spring Valley School District in 1997.  Bill died on May 3, 2020 survived by his wife of 63-years, four children, seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)