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He was born Nov. 5, 1915, in Encino.
Cantu lived in Kingsville under the care of his niece, Janie Cantu Garza and her husband, Ovidio Garza.
He was the son of the late Marcelo A. Cantu and San Juanita V. Cantu.
Survivors include his son, Michael Cantu and granddaughter Cristina Cantu of Seattle, Wa., and stepchildren, Vic Calhoun of Washington, Karen Bailey of California, and Wolf (Gabriela) Thornton of Canada.
He graduated from Falfurrias High School. He joined the United States Army for four years and served as a Rifle Sharpshooter and Machine Gunner, participated in World War II, and was also a prisoner of war survivor. We received the following decorations/metals: American Defense Service Medal, America Theater Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, Philippine Liberation Metal with one Bronze Star, a Victory Ribbon, one Service Stripe and four Overseas Bars.
Thereafter, he was employed with Washington National Gas, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Inc., and then went on to establish his own plumbing business known as Cantu’s Plumbing Company at Freeland, Wa. As a licensed plumber he provided services at Freeland and throughout its surrounding area. He was an active community leader having served as president of the Lions Club and active volunteer of the Lions Sight Conservation Foundation.
A rosary was held Sept. 28 at the Funeraria Del Angel Howard Williams in Falfurrias.
A Mass was celebrated Sept. 29 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Encino.
Burial followed at the Villarreal Cemetery in Encino.