Gwendolyn Elaine Cantrell

Elaine Cantrell

Gwendolyn Elaine Cantrell, 70, of Charlottesville, died Saturday, December 5, 2009, at a local hospital.

She was born in Kentucky on April 28, 1939, the daughter of the late Woodrow and Bertha Elliott Cantrell. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Gary Stephen Cantrell; and her best friend and longtime companion, Brenda E. Thompson.

Elaine was retired from the University of Virginia Medical Computing Department as an Accountant and was a United States Army veteran. She was a faithful Christian and dedicated member of First Christian Church.

She is survived by her stepmother, Joyce P. Cantrell of Ashland, Kentucky; six brothers and sisters, Woodrow Cantrell and his wife, Mary, of Dover, Delaware, Woodrow Cantrell III and his wife, Barb, of Streamwood, Illinois, Robert Matthew Cantrell and his wife, Carol, of Ashland, Kentucky, Judy Cantrell and her friend, Chris, of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Stephanie Scheid and her husband, Dave, of Sedalia, Missouri, and Rita Reavell of Yorba Linda, California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by her Virginia family of 50 years, Fred and Sandra Shifflett and their children; along with the Thompson family, brothers, Ronnie and Larry and their children; and her adopted daughter, Mary Beth Shelar and her son.

A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, December 10, 2009, at Maple Grove Christian Church with Mr. Jeff Villio officiating. Interment will follow at Holly Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, 2009, at Teague Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the First Christian Church Building Fund, 1032 Linden Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.