William J. CUNNINGHAM

CUNNINGHAM, THOMPSON, PARKER, HOPPE, SUTPHIN, LONEY, HOWARD, WANDERSCHEID, WALKER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/12/2008 at 16:19:12

Herald And News, Klamath Falls, Oregon
1/5/2008

A Memorial mass will be offered for William J. "Bill" Cunningham on Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, at 1 p.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 4880 Bristol Ave., with Rev. Rick Fischer and Rev. Ildeforce Madara celebrating. Disposition was by Pyramid Cremations. Private inurnment will take place in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery columbarium. Those wishing to do so may send contributions in memory of Bill to the charity of choice. Mr. Cunningham, 85, died of natural causes at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008.

He was born June 10, 1922, in Brainerd, Minn., to Ray and Effie (Thompson) Cunningham.
On July 11, 1945, he was married to the former Patricia A. Parker in Escondido, Calif. Pat, his wife of 62 years, died on Jan. 4, three days after Bill's death. They moved to Klamath Falls from Belmond, Iowa, in 1947. Bill was a longtime automobile salesman in Klamath Falls, retiring in 1989. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and served on the parish council. He was also a member of Klamath Falls BPOE No. 1247 and the Boy Scouts of America. He served with the United States Marine Corps from 1941 until 1947 during World War II. He loved his family and enjoyed watching his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sporting events. He enjoyed golfing, woodworking and making children's toys. Music was a big part of his life. He played the bass horn and the bass fiddle with the Baldy Evans Band and the Blue Notes. He also taught music at Sacred Heart Academy.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Cathy and George Hoppe of Klamath Falls and his son Mike Cunningham and his fiancee Kristi Sutphin of Roseburg, Ore.; grandchildren Lana Loney and her husband Tom, Chris Howard and his wife Kristina, Tom Howard and his wife Stacy, Greg Cunningham and his wife Carlie, Kirk Cunningham and his fiancee Erin Wanderscheid and Craig Hoppe and Tammi, all of Klamath Falls, and Beth Walker and her husband Don of Hendersonville, Tenn.; eight great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Thomas. Ward's Klamath Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.