Mr. Oliver Stanton Cantrell, age 93 of Sparta, passed away at 6:20pm Monday, July 19, 2021 at NHC of Sparta.

Mr. Cantrell was born August 8, 1927 in Sparta, Tennessee to the late James Lum and Mattie Virgie Manning Cantrell. Stanton worked 45 years for Sparta Electric System and served as a volunteer fireman for 36 years. He was a dynamic basketball and football player, starting as a freshman playing with almost all seniors. His big interest was golf, sometimes playing 36 holes a day. The best times were playing with his brothers - Edd, Jim and Bobby - for ice cream. They hated losing to Stanton, who could eat two or three cones. Stanton was a devoted life-long member of First Baptist Church, a long-time member of the Sparta Lions Club, and an avid Vols fan.

The family extends a special thank you to Station 3 at NHC for the care and love they showed to Stanton, especially his special friend and nurse Nicki Basham.

In addition to his parents, Stanton is preceded in death by his grandson Christopher Sopha, brother Fred Cantrell, and sisters Hannah Mize and Nannie Mae Billings.

Stanton is lovingly survived by his

Wife of 73 years: Minnie Vea Miller Cantrell

Daughter: Debra (Rudy) Wilhite

Brothers: Edd Cantrell, Jim (Earlayne) Cantrell, Bobby (Janie) Cantrell

Sisters: Carolyn Copeland, Lum Ellen (Harold) Mayberry, Mattie Burnette

Several nieces and nephews

Close Friend: H.L. Kirby

Funeral services will be conducted 4:00pm Friday, July 23, 2021 in the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Highland Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 1:00-4:00pm at Hunter Funeral Home. Doug Benningfield and Brad Walker will officiate.

Gary McCulley, Jeff Wilson, Bruce Null, Hoyt Jones, Wayne Rogers and Doug Austin will serve the family as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are H.L. Kirby and Arnold Williams

Memorials made be made to Highland Cemetery or the Alzheimer's Association, in care of Hunter Funeral Home, PO Box 90, Sparta, TN 38583.