Edsell L. Cunningham
Edsell L. Cunningham, 86, died Tuesday April 4, 2017 at the family’s home north of Middletown.
Funeral services were Saturday at 3 p.m., at Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia with the Rev. Jerry Gamm and the Rev. Bob Hoehn officiating. Music was provided by Sharon Hoehn, pianist. Interment was in Vandalia Cemetery with full military honors.
Visitation was Friday from 5-8 p.m., at the funeral home.
He was born July 28, 1930 in rural Middletown, the son of Harry Orville and Minnie Irene Hamlett Cunningham. He married Carol Jane Traynor on Nov. 21, 1953 north of Vandalia. She survives at the home.
Other survivors include one son, Bob Cunningham and wife, Teresa of rural Middletown; one sister, Erma Lee Traynor of Vandalia; three grandchildren, Travis Cunningham and wife, Sylvia of New Hartford; Candace Rutherford of rural Middletown; Marissa Cunningham of rural Middletown; and five great-grandchildren, Hope Cunningham and Cole Cunningham of New Hartford; Ashley, Addison and Aiden Rutherford of rural Middletown.
Preceded was in death by his parents; one son, Ronnie Wayne Cunningham; one daughter, Joyce Marie Cunningham Pease; and one brother, Guy Estes “Bud” Cunningham.
Edsell grew up in the rural Middletown area and was a 1948 graduate of Bowling Green High School. He was a Christian by faith and attended the New Hartford Baptist Church.
Three years after high school, Edsell joined the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force, he married Carol Jane Traynor and upon completing four years of service to his country, he began working at Kaiser Refractories in Mexico. In 1977, Edsell started working for ADM in Mexico as a production operator before he retired in 1996.
During the years after his military service, he also did custom lime hauling, drove a school bus for the Bowling Green school district, farmed and raised hogs to sell at auction. Edsell enjoyed attending flea markets and farm auctions, running his bulldozer on the farm, feeding the deer and turkey, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Travis Cunningham, Jim Pease, Lyndell Ankrom, Paul Traynor, Bill Traynor and Steve Reynolds. Honorary pallbearers were Brad Lucas, Jess Lucas, Billy Joe Cover, Steven Bailey and Scott Fuerst.
Memorials are encouraged to the American Heart Association or to the American Cancer Society
