Bob Cantonwine

Bob passed away peacefully at home on March 14, at the age of 85.

Bob was born in Walla Walla, WA in 1934. He graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1952. After graduating from Northwest Nazarene College in 1956, he later earned his Masters degree from Oregon College of Education in 1966.

Bob and Velma were married in 1954 and were deeply devoted to each other for 65 years. Bob was a teacher and coach for 35 years of those years, building winning basketball programs in Heppner, Or., Dallas, Or., and at South Salem High School. Throughout his distinguished coaching career, he took multiple basketball teams to State. In 2010, he was inducted into South Salem High School Sports Hall of Fame and Dallas High School Hall of Fame. While coaching basketball at South Salem, he also coached winning golf teams. He was an avid golfer and a member of Illahe Hills Country Club for a number of years.

Bob spent many enjoyable hours fishing for salmon at Depoe Bay and numerous fly fishing trips. He was a sure-shot pheasant hunter for 40 years at a family ranch in Washington. Bob and Velma enjoyed traveling together and spent winters in Southern California.

Bob retired from education in 1990. He pursued a new hobby/career as a collector and dealer of fine firearms. He spent many of his retired years traveling throughout the United States meeting with other collectors and building a network of friends and colleagues. Bob was also a member of the First Church of the Nazarene for 55 years. During that time he served on the board, taught Sunday School classes and served as a greeter for years.

Bob is survived by his wife, Velma and children, Scott (Angie), Rob (Linda) and Kimberly. He is also survived by nine grandchildren (Scott, Alix, Nick, Nate, Shelby, Robbie, Courtney, Kramer, and Kelsey) and one great-grandchild (Everett). One of Bob's greatest joys was sharing in many of his grand-childrens' activities. He was deeply loved and respected by all his family and will be missed.

Assisting the family is Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service. There will be a graveside service at Belcrest Memorial Park on Saturday, March 21st, at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Salem First Church of the Nazarene or charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Statesman Journal from Mar. 18 to Mar. 19, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Bob Cantonwine

Sponsored by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.

6 Entries

Dr. Matthew

March 19, 2020

Thank you for being the best teacher, Christian mentor, and basketball coach that I ever had. You knew the mechanics of the game better than my college basketball coach. You were the best. See you in Heaven.

Todd Boese

March 19, 2020

He molded me into the man I am today. I have a heavy heart tonight. I would give anything to be there Saturday, so know you will all in my thoughts on Saturday

Robert Tinnell

March 19, 2020

I had the pleasure of working with Bob at South Salem and also had the pleasure of teaching his son Rob. We were classmates at Western Oregon when we completed our Masters Degrees and enjoyed discussions concerning antique rifles and muskets.
RIP my friend.

March 19, 2020

I will always remember attending a Nicky Cruz testimony and outreach and His message of turning from Gangs to God and how that transformation changed Nicky Cruz and countless other men and women.

I have always appreciated that Mr. Cantonwine, cared enough about me to make sure that Rob invited me to go. I believe that Mr. Cantonwine was hopeful that the testimony of Nicky Cruz would propel me to stay clear of the pot holes that await any young man without clear direction or a committed walk with Christ.

As I continued to mature every man has to ask himself the question what does it mean to be a man? And moreover, how do you as a father instill that reality in your sons, as well as all the sons of other parents that he was entrusted with?

Mr. Cantonwine did just that. He raised many of us, as we witnessed the love, admiration, affection and respect that he had for his wife.

Mr. Cantonwine offered us all a clear roadmap to follow simply by observing the interactions that he had with his daughter and sons.

He was a role model without knowing it, he was setting a standard without knowing as he did not know that a young boy living next door was watching and learning.

He is now home and he will be greatly missed
David Bier

Penny Ryan

March 19, 2020

We are very blessed to have known Bob. He always had a smile and would stop and chat with us when we saw each other.

As a neighbor you couldn't have asked for any better. This season when I grow my tomatoes, I will be thinking of Bob as we often talked about our tomatoes together. We are going to miss him very much.
Neighbors,
Eric and Penny

Scott Greenwood-Meinert

March 18, 2020

I had the great blessing of playing for Coach at South for three years. Tremendous teacher, no matter what he was teaching. The phrase goes something like, "he could be you with his, turn around and beat you again with yours."

Coach was a great competitor, but he was a man that taught the process of competing, long before "the process" was trending.

Thank you for your guiding hand Coach. St. Peter needs to learn how to run a 1-2-2 matchup zone and he has the perfect coach for that walking through his gates.

God blessed you Coach, with a beautiful life and a beautiful family. And he blessed those of us that played for you.

Scott Meinert
Saxon, 1984

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