RADM Walter Hollingsworth Cantrell

RADM Walter H. Cantrell died Thursday, April 23 in Asheville, NC at the age of 90.

A native of Brevard, Walter was a son of the late Walter and Faye Cantrell. Walter graduated from Brevard High School and the US Naval Academy, where he earned an MS degree and a NavEng Professional Degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of an advanced program at the Harvard JFK School of Government.

His 37-year naval career included assignments afloat and ashore; combat and peacetime; and overseas and stateside. He was a designated Engineering Duty Officer for thirty years of his career. He held key research, design, management, safety and leadership responsibilities in nuclear submarine and Trident missile programs. In his final Navy tour, he was responsible for development, design, acquisition and deployment of Navy underwater, terrestrial and space communications and other electronics systems.

Upon retirement from the Navy in 1995, Walter was active in developing and applying emerging and new capabilities, including design and construction of a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility. He supported NASA in numerous capacities culminating in responsibility for the Agency’s safe and reliable return-to-flight efforts following the Columbia tragedy. He has served as a consultant in industry and Government, focusing on the effectiveness of processes and procedures to achieve needed technical rigor and safety.

A man of deep faith, he is a member of Arden Presbyterian Church and active in Bible studies at the Pentagon and in Asheville.

Walter is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betsy; his son, Thomas and daughter-in-law, Dee; three grandchildren, Allison, Jack and Luke and one sister, Barbara Wilson of Brevard.

A private memorial service will be held at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.