Joseph A. Cunningham

Joseph A. Cunningham, age 91, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at St Francis Hospital, following complications from a fall in October 2010. Joe was born December 20, 1919 in St. Joseph, MO. He was a 1937 graduate of Tulsa Central High School and a 1941 graduate from the College of Engineering at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater, OK. Joe was a lifelong follower of OSU sports and enjoyed introducing his children to the joys and frustrations of being Cowboy Fans. After graduation, Joe worked for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships in Washington, DC before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He was part of the D-Day invasion of Europe and travelled across most of Western and Eastern Europe during World War II. After military service, Joe worked for the Lee C. Moore Company in Tulsa before joining Perrault Brothers Pipeline Equipment. Throughout numerous mergers and acquisitions he retired from CRC-Evans Pipeline Equipment at age 76, after more than 45 years in the pipeline construction equipment industry. He was noted in the industry for his innovation in engineering and loyalty to his fellow employees. Joe enjoyed travel throughout the world with his wife Nina who preceded him in death in 2002. Of their most memorable travel experiences were several transatlantic flights on the supersonic Concorde. In retirement, Joe enjoyed taking care of his acreage, and could often be seen on one his tractors, also known as his “dream machine” from where he said he did much of his serious thinking and reflection. Joe was a lifelong devout Christian who always put others before himself. He was quiet in his faith, but totally steadfast in his devotion. He was preceded in death by his wife Nina Cunningham, sister, Louise Olsen and brother, Robert (Bob) Cunningham, and his parents Joseph A. and Margaret Cunningham. He is survived by sons Joseph Cunningham III and wife Brenda, and son William Robert Cunningham. He is survived by grandchildren, Carley and Mark Cunningham, Michelle Buttress and husband Otis, Brother, Bernard Cunningham of Amarillo, TX and sister Eileen Luke of Muenster, TX along with numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, May 6, 2011, Southwood Colonial Chapel, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial is Saturday, May 7, 2011, 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Saint Benedict. Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel 918-291-3500 www.fitzgeraldsouthwoodcolonialchapel.com

Joseph A. Cunningham

December 20, 1919 - May 3, 2011