Obituary of Anthony "Tony" Canterbury

Lake Wateree – Anthony "Tony" Canterbury, 74, passed away at home on Saturday, March 8, 2025.  Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he was the son of the late Edward Wayne and Hazel Parker Canterbury.  He served in the United States Navy for 8 years and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tulsa University in Oklahoma.

Tony had an extensive work history that moved his family to 12 states. All of his work experience after leaving the Navy was in the nuclear field and included: Public Service Company of Oklahoma, General Electric, Carolina Power and Light, and Lockheed Martin which became USEC, all in managerial positions. After working for Carolina Power and Light in North Carolina, and South Carolina, Tony worked for USEC at both gaseous diffusion plants, in Paducah, KY, and then in Portsmouth, OH. After retiring from USEC, he continued his association with the Ohio plant, working for WAI Construction, then W.E.M, and finally Portsmouth Mission Alliance, until he completely retired to enjoy life on Lake Wateree in South Carolina. 

Tony was a Corvette enthusiast and loved using his mechanical engineering mind to work on cars.  He never let a task be too big to tackle.  He enjoyed college football and was an avid Oklahoma Sooners fan.  He also enjoyed golf, boating, jet skiing and being on the lake with family and friends.  He was a family man who was faithful and loving to his wife, and devoted to his children and grandchildren. Tony was very proud of the fact that he and his wife had visited so many National Parks and historic sites. He enjoyed regaling friends and families with the stories of those and other adventures.

Left to cherish his memory, are his wife of 55 years, Joan Louise Surbey Canterbury, née Surbey; children, Angela Canterbury (Patrick Barbe) of MD, Melanie C. Otwell (Steven) of Waxhaw, NC, and Anthony J. Canterbury II (Sara) of Cincinnati, Ohio; brother, Edward W. Canterbury of Hulbert, Oklahoma; sister, Rosie Spriggs of Muskogee, Oklahoma; and grandchildren, Chuck Thompson, Sophia Thompson, Macy Otwell, Josie Otwell, Alistair Canterbury and Estella Canterbury.

He was predeceased by his parents; his sisters, Patsy Snodgrass, Rae Lynne Peeples; and a brother, John Canterbury.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home.