Louis Edward Cunningham

Louis E. Cunningham, of Chesterfield, VA., died on Monday, November 27, 2017 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Born in Bangor, Maine in 1924 the son of the late Lina Monk Cunningham and Alexander Cunningham, Jr., he was predeceased by three brothers, George, Irving, and Francis; and two sisters, Irene Estabrook and Evangeline Cunningham. He is survived by sister Ida Sites (now 102) and his wife of 72 years, Charlotte Fletcher Cunningham; two sons, Alan (wife Judith) and Timothy (wife Dawn); three grandsons, Richard, Scott, Sean, and step-grandson Gregory Lee; two great grandsons, two great granddaughters, and many dear friends. An honors graduate from Bangor High School Class of 42, he entered the U.S. ARMY and trained as a radio operator. Serving in Germany as a member of the 106th Reconnaissance Troop, 106th Infantry Division, during the Battle of the Bulge, he was captured along with many others of the l06th Infantry Division and spent the rest of the war in German prison camps, almost dying of starvation. Upon his release by British forces, he recuperated in France before his return to the U.S. in June 1945 when he married his high school sweetheart Charlotte Fletcher, and returned to Maine after his discharge from the Army in December 1945. After his career of 47 years with Merchants Dispatch Transportation Corp., a subsidiary of New York Central and later Conrail, he retired as Director of Administration. With job transfers, he and his family moved from Maine to Boston where he lived in Malden and Reading, MA to Chicago, living in Lombard, IL, and finally to the Philadelphia area, living in Upper Gwynedd, PA before his move in 2010 to Chesterfield, VA. After his retirement, he volunteered at Valley Forge National Park and served on the Board of the Lansdale, PA Community Concerts. Service organizations he belonged to include American Ex-Prisoners of War, VFW, American Legion, 106th Infantry Division Association and especially the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, which he actively supported for years, serving as their National President in 2002-3 remaining on their Board through 2016. Interment will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 11, 2017 at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia, VA and a Recognition of Life service will be at Springdale at Lucy Corr, Chesterfield, VA at a date to be determined. The family is being served by the Chester Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com