James Paul Cunningham, at the age of 97, went to his eternal home in heaven on Friday, May 1, 2026. Under the kind care of VITAS Hospice, Paul passed peacefully at home in Prosper, Texas.

Paul and his twin sister, Pauline, were born May 16, 1928, in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Their parents were Merrill and Clara Cunningham. The twins grew up on a farm in the Hughes community southeast of Lindsay, in Garvin County, with their three older siblings, Alta Ruth, Nora Faye, and Ralph Lee. Paul graduated from Hughes High School in 1946. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in January 1951. His participation in R.O.T.C would later require him to serve 2 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, which he served from July 1955 until July 1957.

While finishing his service at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas, Paul met Freda Marie Ritchey at church. They married in San Antonio, TX on December 28, 1957. They lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and had three children: Carmen, Nancy, and Grant.

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, Paul taught math at Capitol Hill Junior High School in Oklahoma City. In 1955, with the rank of 1st Lt., he was called to active duty for two years in the U.S. Air Force. Paul spent the first year on a SAC airbase in French Morocco, North Africa, just south of Casablanca. He spent the second year at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. It was during his duty at Lackland that he met and later married Freda Ritchey, who was on staff at the Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio. After Paul finished his year at Lackland, he separated from the service and returned to Oklahoma City. He taught three more years of junior high math, this time at Classen Jr-Sr High School. In 1960, Paul gave up teaching and went to work at Royal W. Carson & Co., selling mutual funds. Over the next several years, he worked for several brokerage firms, looking for the ideal work environment. For a short time, he was branch manager of the San Antonio office of E. F. Hutton & Co. This was followed by a short stint as branch manager of the Oklahoma City office of the same firm. In 1988, Paul organized his own investment firm, Merit Advisors. He retired from this company in 2012, only to re-enter the business four years later with his second company, Signal Research Group. He finally retired in 2016, at the age of 84. He attributed his 52+ years of continuous employment to the fact that in his later years, he was his own boss and no one could write him a pink slip. In addition, Paul loved managing high yield bond funds for his clients. And last, but not least, he was blessed with excellent health.

From time to time, Paul tried his hand at writing. In 2002, he began to write letters to his friend, Al Hunt, who would publish them in the Lindsay News. Each letter would cover some event or incident that Paul had experienced while he was growing up on the farm. He admitted to adding a little embellishment, here and there, but insisted that every letter was based on an event that truly happened. After ten years of letter-writing, Paul, with the help of his daughter, Nancy, enlisted the services of an online publisher. The result was a 178-page paperback containing 73 "Letters from a Farm Boy."

In 2002, during a soccer game, Grant suffered a fatal head injury. After Grant's death, Paul became a serious "fan" of Grant's music career and catalogued every recorded song and record, and the musicians who recorded them, even organizing them into a beautiful self-published book.

Next came the "Spell Riet Project," a plan that Paul designed to correct the spelling problems encountered by students in Grades K through 5. Paul had tweaked his system for many years, and appreciated feedback from family, friends and educators. At the time of his passing, Paul was still trying to persuade teachers and parents to support the adoption of a plan that would make today's English much easier to read and spell.

Paul became a follower of Christ in 1985, at the age of 57. His conversion came after he had played the role of a Christian since he was 18, but during this time, did not really have a personal relationship with the Lord. At the time of his conversion, Paul was a Sunday School teacher and deacon in the Putnam City Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. Following his conversion, Paul became a member of the Christian Businessmen's Connection. The CBMC's leadership made a significant contribution to Paul's spiritual development. As a gifted teacher, Paul taught a Sunday School class until 2024. From 2009 to 2013, Paul served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. After retirement, Paul wanted to have a schedule, so he volunteered at his church, Northwest Baptist Church. He was a greeter and receptionist, four days a week, and faithfully managed the prayer request ministry. After moving to Prosper, Texas, in 2024, he was a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church.

Paul is survived by daughter, Carmen Choate (Kent) of Sand Springs, OK; daughter, Nancy Royall (Bob), of Prosper, TX; daughter-in-law, Kristin Henke (Jim) of Little Rock, AR; grandchildren, Kendall Choate (Kasey), Kyle Choate, Kevin Choate (Karley), Ashlyn Royall, Erin Royall, Caitlin Ebadipour (Erfan), Will Henke (Kali), Evan Henke (Ansley), and Blake Henke; great-grandchildren, Kamsin, Cera, Kendi, Kaleo, and Sadie (and two more due this year). He was predeceased by his wife, Freda (March 12, 2026), his parents, four siblings, and son Grant.

Paul will be remembered for his enduring wit, tenacity for any project that needed to be tackled, knowledge of just where to prune a tree for maximum growth and beauty, a competitive drive to improve anything, love of ice cream, utmost integrity, and love for his family. He will be missed, yet fondly and proudly remembered.

The family is very appreciative of the kind care and support of the nurses and staff of VITAS Hospice. They made Dad's final days easier and comfortable.

Paul's memorial service will be held Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10:00 am, at the Northwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Interment of his earthly remains will be in the Chapel Hill Cemetery in Oklahoma City, at a later date.

Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151