John Robert Cunningham's Obituary
Mr. Bob Cunningham, 91 of St. Petersburg died on Sunday June 19, 2016. He is a friend and neighbor of my parents. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1925.
One of the first childhood memories Mr. Cunningham can recall is from when he was about three or four years old. His father and
some of his fathers friends were playing cards and drinking their home brewed beer (those were the days of prohibition). Well, little Bob made the rounds tasting from some of the bottles of beer, his mother came along and picked him up, sat him up on top of the trunk of the car and he fell off! Unfortunately, this led to his mother leaving his father, wanting a better environment to raise her son.
One of the most historical times Mr. Cunningham remembers is President Roosevelt being sworn into office. That was when social security started.
Mr. Cunningham started working at eleven years of age. It was just he and his mother so he was the man of the house. He worked
at an amusement park. He did a lot of chores and cooking for his mother. He didn't hate any of this, he did what he had to do. He also had a lot of freedom and became street wise at a young age but
never got into trouble.
When asked what he did before the days of radio and
television Mr. Cunningham laughed, " of coarse we had radio, I'm not that old!". He said they had a Crystal Set that could only get in one station. He liked to lay on the floor in front of the radio and listen to
shows like the Mystery of The Squeaky Door and Jack Armstrong the athlete.
Mr. Cunningham would rather work than go to school. He was drafted into the Army for W.W.II six months before he was to graduate, however, the Army gave him a delay in route so he could finish school and receive his diploma.
The dating Mr. Cunningham did before going to war was usually group type dating, going roller-skating and to the park.
After the service Mr. Cunningham voted for President Roosevelt who was reelected. He liked serving in the Army under Roosevelt's command and liked that Roosevelt created jobs for the people in the depression.
Mr. Cunningham and his wife Betty have been happily married for twenty-four years. They had a formal church ceremony with a woman minister who was quite boisterous, they felt the whole world knew of their new happiness! They each have one son from a previous marriage, ages 50 and 43.
Mr. Cunningham attended college for two years after returning from the service. However, he left school to work two jobs to
support his son after a tragic car accident which left his wife paralyzed and she eventually passed away.
Mr. Cunningham worked most of his life for Good Year Tire and Rubber Company. He was head of a unit that tested large truck rims.
He also worked three days a week for the Sheriffs Department. He enjoyed his work and probably would have done it again.
When asked whom he shares a close relationship with Mr. Cunningham quickly responded "my wife, we're very happy and
content". He and his wife have become close to a young couple whose children are like their grandchildren. This young man of thirty years of age took a week off work to help the Cunninghams
move to St.Petersburg from Doylestown Ohio. "He is like a son to me, never would even accept any money for helping us, he was raised in
an Amish family, maybe that is where he learned such good characteristics" commented Mr. Cunningham. They are looking forward to them visiting and talcing the children to Disney World one day.
Living arrangements are nice, Mr. Cunningham and his wife are content and feel they live a comfortable life. " I've had a big home
for many years, I like having something smaller now with less upkeep". He hasn't had to change his standard of living since retiring in his fifties.
The Cunninghams see their physicians every three months, they take their medications as directed. Mr. Cunningham contracted Malaria in the service, although today he is in good health, he does have Diabetes and tends to have high cholesterol which are both controlled.
Mr. Cunningham has always had a love for cars, restoring and building them. His got his first car at sixteen, a 1926 Whippet which he paid twelve dollars for! He and his friend use to build three quarter scale Indianapolis race cars.
As for musical instruments, Mr. Cunningham tried the Hawaiian guitar, the trumpet, the saxophone, and finally settled with the
drums. He was the drummer of a five piece group called "The Dukes of Rhythm". He also blowed the bugle for six months in the army!
His strongest asset is probably his friendly nature. He feels this stems from dealing with the public, that he learned to accept people for who they are and look at the good in them. He wasn't always this way however, " after four years of war you feel belligerent like you lost part of your life, but then you mellow out" Mr. Cunningham added. He said he felt very angry for awhile after serving M.P. duty at the hospital on the barracks, also he served as a
prison guard at Fort Benjamin U.S.B.D., where they held U.S. military criminals and some German prisoners of war. One story about his military experience was very interesting to me, being in the dental field. Mr. Cunningham suffered a blow from a riffle butt to his face.
The impact severed his two central teeth to the gum line. There at the barricks he had post (screw type) with teeth attached to them
placed (screwed as Mr. Cunningham. recalls) into the roots. This was performed by a German prisoner of war, and those teeth are still in there today, doing just fine! Mr. Cunningham. said the price was right and he's been happy with the outcome. I have to admit, they match his natural teeth and look great!
Mr. Cunningham doesn't do many extravagant things, but says he lives a good life, if he wants something he gets it, doesn't like to wait till Christmas. He has a nice moterhome, cars, has traveled a lot. There isn't any one thing he really wants to do that he hasn't done,
he has seen a lot of the United States and some abroad, just really wants to enjoy spending time with his wife and relax here in Florida. He feels content.
He has lived his life with strong convictions of being responsible and independent, he has a strong work ethic. Mr.
Cunningham's uncle was very influential to him in his younger years, he was there to help out when his mother was busy working to make ends meet. His uncle was a police officer and looked out for him.
When asked what advice he would give to today's youth, Mr. Cunningham replied, "seems to be more bad than good young people these days, they don't seem to be respectful to the elderly, authority, police, etc. So many shootings, never heard of such things when I was growing up. The world is changing, parents need to control their kids, I know they're not all bad, but some are hard to control".
I really enjoyed getting to know Mr. Cunningham and his wife.
He has an interesting background with many fond memories to share. I also commend him on his strength and perseverance in the hard times, that he always made the best of situations and did the right thing. Survivors include his son, Randall Cunningham of Akron, Ohio and his longtime caretaker, Sharon Lee Demena of St. Petersburg, FL.
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?
