Edsell L. Cunningham

Friday, April 7, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia.

Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia.
Officiating: Rev. Jerry Gamm and Rev. Bob Hoehn and Rev. Paul Lewis.
Music: Sharon Hoehn - pianist.
Interment: Vandalia Cemetery with full military honors.
Pallbearers: Travis Cunningham, Jim Pease, Lyndell Ankrom, Paul Traynor, Bill Traynor and Steve Reynolds.
Honorary Pallbearers: Steven Bailey, Darwyn Pease, Scott Fuerst, Brad Lucas, Jess Lucas & Billy Joe Cover.

Edsell L. Cunningham passed away at 9:37 a.m. Tuesday April 4, 2017 at the family home north of Middletown. He grew up in the rural Middletown area, attended grade school at the Dunn Country school and later attended Middletown High school for 3 years before graduating from Bowling Green High School in 1948. He became a Christian by faith on September 12, 2015 and attended the New Hartford Baptist Church.
Three years after high school, Edsell joined the U. S. Air Force and was active from 1951 to 1955. While in the Air Force, he married Carol Jane Traynor in 1953. They lived in several states until his completion of military duty, including New Mexico & California, before finally making their home in rural Middletown. Upon completing his service to his country, Edsell began working at Kaiser Refractories in Mexico, MO. In 1977, Edsell started working for ADM in Mexico, MO as a production operator and remained there until 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 his acreage, and raised hogs to sell at auction. Edsell enjoyed attending flea markets and farm auctions. He was a collector of just about everything; his favorite things being belts, buckles, bolo ties, and knives. Over the years, he faithfully attended Travis's tractor pulls, Candice's hog shows, and Marissa's horse shows. He also loved running his bulldozer and working around the farm, feeding the deer and turkey, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Born: July 28, 1930 in rural Middletown, the son of Harry Orville and Minnie Irene (Hamlett) Cunningham.

Married: Carol Jane Traynor on November 21, 1953 north of Vandalia; she survives at the home.

Survivors include: wife, Carol of rural Middletown; one son, Bob and wife, Teresa Cunningham of rural Middletown; one sister, Erma Lee Traynor of Vandalia; three grandchildren: Travis and wife, Sylvia Cunningham of New Hartford; Candace Rutherford of rural Middletown; Marissa Cunningham and fiancé, Steven Bailey of rural Middletown; five great-grandchildren: Hope Cunningham and Cole Cunningham of New Hartford; Ashley, Addison and Aiden Rutherford of rural Middletown. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceded in death by: parents; one son, Ronnie Wayne Cunningham; one daughter, Joyce Marie (Cunningham) Pease; one brother, Guy Estes "Bud" Cunningham.

Memorials are encouraged to the American Heart Association or to the American Cancer Society