Richard Lee Cunningham

Richard Lee Cunningham passed away Friday, September 16, 2005 at his residence. Services will be at 1:30 PM Monday, September 19 at St. Jerome Catholic Church with Father Rakshaganathan Selvaraj as the celebrant. Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 9:00 PM Sunday, September 18 and Rosary will be from 7 to 8:00 PM at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque.

Richard was born on October 25, 1933 to Pansy Elaine Barrett and Porter Lee Cunningham in Waco, Texas. He attended Waco High School and graduated in 1952. He joined the United States Navy in 1952-1956 and was stationed in Kingsville, Texas as an aviation mechanic. He graduated from Baylor University in 1965 with a BS in math and physics.

He married Barbara Ann Jones in 1958, the mother of his three children, William Randal Randy Cunningham, Alan Lee Cunningham and Annette Frances Ayers. He married Mary Luttrell in 1981. Mary and Richard celebrated their 24th anniversary in August.

Richard worked for Rocketdyne in McGregor, TRW Systems in Nassau Bay, Texas and joined his father-in-law at Circle Hardware and Lumber Co., Inc. in 1972. In 1981, he purchased Circle Hardware and Lumber Co., and has owned and operated it ever since.

He loved flying and held an instruments license. He recently became a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol and 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus Council 13005 and is a member of St Jerome Catholic Church where he belonged to the Empty Nest Club and Men’s Club. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge #92, was a 32nd degree Mason and belonged to the Scottish Rite and the Shrine motorcycle drill team, the “Sheiks”.

He was a member of several industry associations, Lumbermen’s of Texas, HOT Home Builders and held a broker license in Real Estate.

Among Richard’s hobbies were flying, fishing, snow skiing, traveling and family.

He is survived by his wife Mary; sons, William Randal Randy and wife, Betsy of New Braunfels, Alan Lee and wife, Deana of Arlington; daughter, Annette Cunningham Ayers and husband, Mark of Whitney; two step-sons, Matthew Luttrell and wife, Karen of Ft. Collins, Co. and Thomas Luttrell and wife, Amy of Austin; two brothers, Frederick Mike Cunningham and wife, Jeanne and Earl Porkey Cunningham and wife, Gale both of Tyler and a very special aunt and uncle, Doris and Dave Ahokas of San Antonio; twelve grandchildren, Stephen Tarver, Suzanne and Sarah Cunningham, Lindsey, Taylor, and Madison Cunningham, Abigail and Madeline Ayers, Elizabeth, Katie and Monica Luttrell and Lucy Luttrell; many nieces, nephews and cousins; two brother-in-laws, Michael Howell and wife, Rosemary of Cedar Hill and Patrick Howell and wife, Pam of Ft. Worth.

Memorials can be given to Providence Hospice, Providence Auxiliary or Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.

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