ZELL COL USAF (RET) Age 71, a resident of Las Cruces, NM, died January 7, 2012. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Christine Cantrell of Las Cruces; two children, son Zell Orden Cantrell III and wife, Lesley of Denver, CO, and daughter Kimberly Cantrell of Vashon, WA, and their mother, Linda Brunetti of Boise, ID; grandchildren, Claire and Sydney Cantrell; sisters, Margaret Cantrell of Redding, CA, and Mary Cantrell of Woodland, CA; mother-in-law, Agnes Sanchez of Las Cruces; brothers and sisters-in-law, Albert and Christine Sanchez of Las Cruces, Patrick and Mary Sanchez, of Las Cruces, Robert Sanchez of El Paso, TX, and Josie Sanchez of Las Cruces, and Lawrence and Lisa Sanchez of Grants, NM; and numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces. Colonel Cantrell was preceded in death by his parents, Zell and Margaret Cantrell; and wife Sue Cantrell of Portland, OR. He was born in 1940 in San Francisco, CA. In 1958 he graduated from Woodland High School with honors in Woodland, CA. Colonel Cantrell was awarded a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from University of California, Berkley, Class of 1963. He continued his higher education studies and obtained a Master's in Operations Management from Auburn University, a Master's in Logistics Management from Wright State University, and he conducted post graduate work at the University of Houston. Colonel Cantrell had a meritorious 26 year career in the United States Air Force, from 1963-1989. He completed his Air Force flight training at Enid Air Force Base, Enid, OK. Colonel Cantrell flew over 3300 flight hours, including 2200 hours as an F-4 fighter pilot. During the Vietnam (War) Colonel Cantrell flew 263 combat missions. He had various Air Force assignments and over the course of his career was assigned to Air Force Bases in the US and abroad including: Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM, Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, Cam Ranh Bay Air Base in Vietnam, Udorn Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand, Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. Colonel Cantrell also had a four year tour at the Air Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, DC from 1982-1986. Colonel Cantrell received numerous medals including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and other ribbons of distinction. In 2010 Colonel Cantrell participated in the Veterans History Project and provided an oral history interview which is now catalogued in the Library of Congress as part of the American Folklife Center. The interview can be accessed online at: http://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets and contains Colonel Cantrell's recollections of his years of military service. After retirement, Colonel Cantrell did occasional contract work and volunteer work for AARP in Albuquerque, NM and Las Cruces, NM. In 1998 Colonel Cantrell met and married Christine and moved to Las Cruces, NM. He and his wife Christine enjoyed many years studying history and traveling to favorite historical spots in the Southwest, the United States and abroad. They particularly enjoyed traveling to visit family and to attend reunions with the 49th Fighter Group and 65-D Flight Group. Colonel Cantrell participated in the Military Officers Association, and the Dandelions Military Pilots Association. Colonel Cantrell's family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the doctors and nurses who cared for him during this last year. Visitation for Colonel Cantrell will begin at 1:00 PM on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Baca's Chapel of Prayer, 300 E. Boutz Road, where the Funeral Service is scheduled for 2:00 PM with Military Honors. Inurnment of cremains will take place at a later date in a separate and private service at the Sanchez family plot in Santa Rosa, NM.
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