Obituaries

Robert Cantwell, age 85, died on Friday, September 08, 2017.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Lincolnton, NC.  The funeral will be in the church at 7:00 p.m..  The service of burial is planned the following day at 11:00 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Lincolnton, NC.

A native of Tennessee, Bob was the son of Guy and Blanche Cantwell.  His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs.  Thomas Cantwell of Rutledge, TN and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Shipe of Blaine, TN.  Bob earned academic degrees from Carson Newman College, Southern Baptist Seminary and Luther Rice Seminary.  A Baptist pastor for 52 years, he served churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.  He served as pastor at First Baptist Church in Lincolnton from 1968 to 1983.  Active in civic and cultural affairs, Bob was named Lincoln County Man of the Year for 1980.  With his late wife Adair, he delivered meals on wheels for 15 years.  He served at various times as President of Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County, President of the Lincoln County Chapter of the NC Symphony and President of the Lincoln County Concert Association.  Bob also served a number of years on the board of Lincoln Medical Center. In January 2000, he was named a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.

Bob is survived by one son, Allen Cantwell of San Jose, CA: two grandchildren, Joshua and Abigail; and three sisters, Juanita Rucker, Mary Chesney and Thelma McGehee.

Memorial gifts may be made to Unity Baptist Church, PO Box 918, Lincolnton, NC 28093.