Allen W. Cartwright

Allen Whitcomb Cartwright, Sr., age 92, of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Winchester Medical Center.

Born on March 10, 1933, in Deadman's Cay, Long Island, Bahamas, Allen was the youngest son of Clementina Adderley's five children and the last surviving son among the thirty-two children of record of Richard England Cartwright.

In 1948, Allen arrived in the United States through an immigrant work-visa program, first settling in Homestead, Florida. His early years were shaped by working as a farmhand in several states before ultimately traveling to Winchester, Virginia, for the annual apple harvest. There, he met his wife, Beatrice, and together they established a home and raised their family. In 1965, Allen proudly became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

A gifted cook and determined entrepreneur, Allen inspired generations through his masterfully seasoned Caribbean cuisine and his unwavering work ethic. As a devoted father and husband, he taught by example, instilling the values of hard work, creativity and perseverance. Education and economic opportunity were priorities throughout his life, and he remained committed to opening doors for future generations of his family.

Family stood at the center of Allen's life, both in Virginia and in the Bahamas. He took immense joy in returning to his beloved Long Island with his children, where he was affectionately known as "Uncle Allen" to his many nieces and nephews. He will be remembered for his generosity, warmth, and unwavering devotion to family.

He retired as the owner of Cartwright's Recreation in Winchester, where he was fondly known as "Cartwright" by loyal customers and residents of the city's North End. Through his work, he served his community with pride and left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

Allen leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Beatrice, whom he married in September 1956; three sons, James Edward Bland (Darlene) of Winchester, Virginia, Allen W. Cartwright, Jr. (Debra) of Annapolis, Maryland, and Tony A. Cartwright of Winchester, Virginia; one daughter, Angela Cartwright Rush (David) of Winchester, Virginia; grandchildren Sherry Gonzales (Antonio) of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Ricky Baylor of Kannapolis, North Carolina, Tony Cartwright, Jr. (Debra) of Winchester, Virginia, Debra Kaye Cartwright of Brooklyn, New York, Dave Cartwright (Becca) of Winchester, Virginia, Danziel Cartwright (Margo) of Chesapeake, Virginia, Jeremy Morrison (Skylar) of Junction City, Oregon, and Lillian Cartwright (Thomas) of Berkeley, California; sister-in-law Mary Turner of Stephens City, Virginia; brothers-in-law Roland Bland, Sr. of Waldorf, Maryland, and Thomas "Bud" Turner of Stephens City, Virginia; a host of great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews whom he adored deeply.

A service officiated by Reverend Floyd Coates will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel. Entombment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Shenandoah Memorial Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Allen's memory to the Frederick Douglass Alumni Scholarship Fund at uncf.org/pages/the-frederick-douglass-bicentennial-scholarship-program or to Fremont Street Nursery at fremontstreetnursery.org.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff and physicians at Rose Hill Rehabilitation Center in Berryville for their compassionate and exceptional care.

Tributes and condolences may be shared at ompsfuneralhome.com.