Jack Monroe Cunningham, 91, of Cairo, died March 14, 2017, at his residence. He was born November 11, 1925, at Rutherford, WV, the son of the late Charles Wesley and Winnie Bell Simmons Cunningham.
After graduation from Cairo High School in 1943, Jack served in WW II with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Wake Island, CVE #65 protecting the Sea Lanes prior to and during the Invasion of Europe in 1944. After the Invasion was successful, their group of Carriers was recalled from the Atlantic, repaired and moved to The South Pacific to cover the Invasions of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines (Jan. 9, 1945), Iwo Jima (Feb. 19, 1945) and Okinawa (Apr. 1, 1945). On Apr. 3, the ship was nearly sunk when attacked by to Japanese kamikaze bombers after diving into the forward magazine area blowing out the side of the bulkhead a hole 45 feet in length and over 20 feet deep under the waterline. After nearly 3 months repairs and attempted operations against the Japanese, the ship was declared un-battle worthy and performed various duties of delivering needed equipment to other battle areas.
The ship served over 21 months in active combat area's having received several combat ribbons, three major battle stars along with a presidential unit citation and the Navy unit citation and was also made recognition of by the Philippine Government.
During its time in combat the ship was credited with having sunk tow German submarines and the shooting down of over 40 Japanese aircraft.
In 1951, Jack was once again serving his country having enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1947 and was called into the Korean War.
Jack entered civilian life after the war working with his father in the Oil and gas business who owned the Murdy-Bickel Torpedo Co., Inc. in Cairo. As the years progressed, fracturing of oil and gas pay sands became available for increasing oil and gas flows in well sands and the Cunningham's became involved in equipment for servicing and producing wells as the Torpedo business was slowing. There were very few calls for new well shooting by the time Jack's father passed away in 1972.
In 1954, Jack had already taken on a part time job when his friends, Judge DeBerry and Ray Sommerville, had placed his name on the Ritchie County ballot for County Commissioner. Jack happened to win and remained commissioner for 32 years. Jack was a creator of many programs that were finished through donations, grants and volunteer help. Some were the boys dorm at the 4-H grounds, the handicap entrance into the main 4-H building, the blacktopping of the 4-H road, the Handicap 4-H facility and trail at the new North Bend Lake, Ritchie County's first ever public library which cost the taxpayer's $1000 and that money was then returned to the County Treasury to purchase books. A lot of these programs came about when commissioners were being paid $75 per month. Jack repaired the clock in the courthouse tower that hadn't ran for years but runs fairly accurate to this day. He worked with The Ritchie Emergency Services Program and was a volunteer ambulance driver, one of the four original members of the start of the North Bend Lake in 1969, the building of the new Ritchie County High School and its area selection. The straightening of some of the stream channels through the soil conservation. He was a Charter member of the board of trustees of the Oil and Gas Museum at Parkersburg and donator of many valuable items never to be used in service again. He worked on the black topping and other improvements of the Cairo area including the gazebo, the Cairo IOOF Cemetery care and the fund set aside for future cemetery care, an active creative member of the Cairo High School Alumni Association which has provided many thousands of dollars to assist and provide education to students on their way to a better life, the help in rebuilding the Historical Cairo Presbyterian Church, The parking area and handicap entrance, rebuilding of the East End swinging bridge after the 1950 flood, aiding of Cairo area when need be during flooding or bad snow situations with available machinery. He was an active member of The Presbyterian Church, The IOOF Cairo lodge 51, Masonic, Veteran's of Foreign Wars and The American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Lois B. Darnold Cunningham; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three sons, Lloyd Ronald Cunningham, Jeffery Lynn Cunningham, and Randall Mark Cunningham; brother, James Dennis Cunningham, and sisters, Mary Francis Cunningham Boone, and Margaret Louise Cunningham Sears.
Funeral services will be held at 12 PM, Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Raiguel Funeral Home, Harrisville with Dr. Gail Rymer officiating. Burial will follow in the Cairo IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 4-6:30 and Thursday from 11-12 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute funds to: The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, The Shiners', Vets, or Salvation Army. May God be merciful and we may be joined together in his heavenly home forever, Amen
After graduation from Cairo High School in 1943, Jack served in WW II with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Wake Island, CVE #65 protecting the Sea Lanes prior to and during the Invasion of Europe in 1944. After the Invasion was successful, their group of Carriers was recalled from the Atlantic, repaired and moved to The South Pacific to cover the Invasions of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines (Jan. 9, 1945), Iwo Jima (Feb. 19, 1945) and Okinawa (Apr. 1, 1945). On Apr. 3, the ship was nearly sunk when attacked by to Japanese kamikaze bombers after diving into the forward magazine area blowing out the side of the bulkhead a hole 45 feet in length and over 20 feet deep under the waterline. After nearly 3 months repairs and attempted operations against the Japanese, the ship was declared un-battle worthy and performed various duties of delivering needed equipment to other battle areas.
The ship served over 21 months in active combat area's having received several combat ribbons, three major battle stars along with a presidential unit citation and the Navy unit citation and was also made recognition of by the Philippine Government.
During its time in combat the ship was credited with having sunk tow German submarines and the shooting down of over 40 Japanese aircraft.
In 1951, Jack was once again serving his country having enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1947 and was called into the Korean War.
Jack entered civilian life after the war working with his father in the Oil and gas business who owned the Murdy-Bickel Torpedo Co., Inc. in Cairo. As the years progressed, fracturing of oil and gas pay sands became available for increasing oil and gas flows in well sands and the Cunningham's became involved in equipment for servicing and producing wells as the Torpedo business was slowing. There were very few calls for new well shooting by the time Jack's father passed away in 1972.
In 1954, Jack had already taken on a part time job when his friends, Judge DeBerry and Ray Sommerville, had placed his name on the Ritchie County ballot for County Commissioner. Jack happened to win and remained commissioner for 32 years. Jack was a creator of many programs that were finished through donations, grants and volunteer help. Some were the boys dorm at the 4-H grounds, the handicap entrance into the main 4-H building, the blacktopping of the 4-H road, the Handicap 4-H facility and trail at the new North Bend Lake, Ritchie County's first ever public library which cost the taxpayer's $1000 and that money was then returned to the County Treasury to purchase books. A lot of these programs came about when commissioners were being paid $75 per month. Jack repaired the clock in the courthouse tower that hadn't ran for years but runs fairly accurate to this day. He worked with The Ritchie Emergency Services Program and was a volunteer ambulance driver, one of the four original members of the start of the North Bend Lake in 1969, the building of the new Ritchie County High School and its area selection. The straightening of some of the stream channels through the soil conservation. He was a Charter member of the board of trustees of the Oil and Gas Museum at Parkersburg and donator of many valuable items never to be used in service again. He worked on the black topping and other improvements of the Cairo area including the gazebo, the Cairo IOOF Cemetery care and the fund set aside for future cemetery care, an active creative member of the Cairo High School Alumni Association which has provided many thousands of dollars to assist and provide education to students on their way to a better life, the help in rebuilding the Historical Cairo Presbyterian Church, The parking area and handicap entrance, rebuilding of the East End swinging bridge after the 1950 flood, aiding of Cairo area when need be during flooding or bad snow situations with available machinery. He was an active member of The Presbyterian Church, The IOOF Cairo lodge 51, Masonic, Veteran's of Foreign Wars and The American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Lois B. Darnold Cunningham; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three sons, Lloyd Ronald Cunningham, Jeffery Lynn Cunningham, and Randall Mark Cunningham; brother, James Dennis Cunningham, and sisters, Mary Francis Cunningham Boone, and Margaret Louise Cunningham Sears.
Funeral services will be held at 12 PM, Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Raiguel Funeral Home, Harrisville with Dr. Gail Rymer officiating. Burial will follow in the Cairo IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 4-6:30 and Thursday from 11-12 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute funds to: The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, The Shiners', Vets, or Salvation Army. May God be merciful and we may be joined together in his heavenly home forever, Amen
Jack Monroe Cunningham, 91, of Cairo, died March 14, 2017, at his residence. He was born November 11, 1925, at Rutherford, WV, the son of the late Charles Wesley and Winnie Bell Simmons Cunningham.
After graduation from Cairo High School in 1943, Jack served in WW II with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Wake Island, CVE #65 protecting the Sea Lanes prior to and during the Invasion of Europe in 1944. After the Invasion was successful, their group of Carriers was recalled from the Atlantic, repaired and moved to The South Pacific to cover the Invasions of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines (Jan. 9, 1945), Iwo Jima (Feb. 19, 1945) and Okinawa (Apr. 1, 1945). On Apr. 3, the ship was nearly sunk when attacked by to Japanese kamikaze bombers after diving into the forward magazine area blowing out the side of the bulkhead a hole 45 feet in length and over 20 feet deep under the waterline. After nearly 3 months repairs and attempted operations against the Japanese, the ship was declared un-battle worthy and performed various duties of delivering needed equipment to other battle areas.
The ship served over 21 months in active combat area's having received several combat ribbons, three major battle stars along with a presidential unit citation and the Navy unit citation and was also made recognition of by the Philippine Government.
During its time in combat the ship was credited with having sunk tow German submarines and the shooting down of over 40 Japanese aircraft.
In 1951, Jack was once again serving his country having enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1947 and was called into the Korean War.
Jack entered civilian life after the war working with his father in the Oil and gas business who owned the Murdy-Bickel Torpedo Co., Inc. in Cairo. As the years progressed, fracturing of oil and gas pay sands became available for increasing oil and gas flows in well sands and the Cunningham's became involved in equipment for servicing and producing wells as the Torpedo business was slowing. There were very few calls for new well shooting by the time Jack's father passed away in 1972.
In 1954, Jack had already taken on a part time job when his friends, Judge DeBerry and Ray Sommerville, had placed his name on the Ritchie County ballot for County Commissioner. Jack happened to win and remained commissioner for 32 years. Jack was a creator of many programs that were finished through donations, grants and volunteer help. Some were the boys dorm at the 4-H grounds, the handicap entrance into the main 4-H building, the blacktopping of the 4-H road, the Handicap 4-H facility and trail at the new North Bend Lake, Ritchie County's first ever public library which cost the taxpayer's $1000 and that money was then returned to the County Treasury to purchase books. A lot of these programs came about when commissioners were being paid $75 per month. Jack repaired the clock in the courthouse tower that hadn't ran for years but runs fairly accurate to this day. He worked with The Ritchie Emergency Services Program and was a volunteer ambulance driver, one of the four original members of the start of the North Bend Lake in 1969, the building of the new Ritchie County High School and its area selection. The straightening of some of the stream channels through the soil conservation. He was a Charter member of the board of trustees of the Oil and Gas Museum at Parkersburg and donator of many valuable items never to be used in service again. He worked on the black topping and other improvements of the Cairo area including the gazebo, the Cairo IOOF Cemetery care and the fund set aside for future cemetery care, an active creative member of the Cairo High School Alumni Association which has provided many thousands of dollars to assist and provide education to students on their way to a better life, the help in rebuilding the Historical Cairo Presbyterian Church, The parking area and handicap entrance, rebuilding of the East End swinging bridge after the 1950 flood, aiding of Cairo area when need be during flooding or bad snow situations with available machinery. He was an active member of The Presbyterian Church, The IOOF Cairo lodge 51, Masonic, Veteran's of Foreign Wars and The American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Lois B. Darnold Cunningham; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three sons, Lloyd Ronald Cunningham, Jeffery Lynn Cunningham, and Randall Mark Cunningham; brother, James Dennis Cunningham, and sisters, Mary Francis Cunningham Boone, and Margaret Louise Cunningham Sears.
Funeral services will be held at 12 PM, Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Raiguel Funeral Home, Harrisville with Dr. Gail Rymer officiating. Burial will follow in the Cairo IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 4-6:30 and Thursday from 11-12 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute funds to: The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, The Shiners', Vets, or Salvation Army. May God be merciful and we may be joined together in his heavenly home forever, Amen
After graduation from Cairo High School in 1943, Jack served in WW II with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Wake Island, CVE #65 protecting the Sea Lanes prior to and during the Invasion of Europe in 1944. After the Invasion was successful, their group of Carriers was recalled from the Atlantic, repaired and moved to The South Pacific to cover the Invasions of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines (Jan. 9, 1945), Iwo Jima (Feb. 19, 1945) and Okinawa (Apr. 1, 1945). On Apr. 3, the ship was nearly sunk when attacked by to Japanese kamikaze bombers after diving into the forward magazine area blowing out the side of the bulkhead a hole 45 feet in length and over 20 feet deep under the waterline. After nearly 3 months repairs and attempted operations against the Japanese, the ship was declared un-battle worthy and performed various duties of delivering needed equipment to other battle areas.
The ship served over 21 months in active combat area's having received several combat ribbons, three major battle stars along with a presidential unit citation and the Navy unit citation and was also made recognition of by the Philippine Government.
During its time in combat the ship was credited with having sunk tow German submarines and the shooting down of over 40 Japanese aircraft.
In 1951, Jack was once again serving his country having enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1947 and was called into the Korean War.
Jack entered civilian life after the war working with his father in the Oil and gas business who owned the Murdy-Bickel Torpedo Co., Inc. in Cairo. As the years progressed, fracturing of oil and gas pay sands became available for increasing oil and gas flows in well sands and the Cunningham's became involved in equipment for servicing and producing wells as the Torpedo business was slowing. There were very few calls for new well shooting by the time Jack's father passed away in 1972.
In 1954, Jack had already taken on a part time job when his friends, Judge DeBerry and Ray Sommerville, had placed his name on the Ritchie County ballot for County Commissioner. Jack happened to win and remained commissioner for 32 years. Jack was a creator of many programs that were finished through donations, grants and volunteer help. Some were the boys dorm at the 4-H grounds, the handicap entrance into the main 4-H building, the blacktopping of the 4-H road, the Handicap 4-H facility and trail at the new North Bend Lake, Ritchie County's first ever public library which cost the taxpayer's $1000 and that money was then returned to the County Treasury to purchase books. A lot of these programs came about when commissioners were being paid $75 per month. Jack repaired the clock in the courthouse tower that hadn't ran for years but runs fairly accurate to this day. He worked with The Ritchie Emergency Services Program and was a volunteer ambulance driver, one of the four original members of the start of the North Bend Lake in 1969, the building of the new Ritchie County High School and its area selection. The straightening of some of the stream channels through the soil conservation. He was a Charter member of the board of trustees of the Oil and Gas Museum at Parkersburg and donator of many valuable items never to be used in service again. He worked on the black topping and other improvements of the Cairo area including the gazebo, the Cairo IOOF Cemetery care and the fund set aside for future cemetery care, an active creative member of the Cairo High School Alumni Association which has provided many thousands of dollars to assist and provide education to students on their way to a better life, the help in rebuilding the Historical Cairo Presbyterian Church, The parking area and handicap entrance, rebuilding of the East End swinging bridge after the 1950 flood, aiding of Cairo area when need be during flooding or bad snow situations with available machinery. He was an active member of The Presbyterian Church, The IOOF Cairo lodge 51, Masonic, Veteran's of Foreign Wars and The American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Lois B. Darnold Cunningham; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three sons, Lloyd Ronald Cunningham, Jeffery Lynn Cunningham, and Randall Mark Cunningham; brother, James Dennis Cunningham, and sisters, Mary Francis Cunningham Boone, and Margaret Louise Cunningham Sears.
Funeral services will be held at 12 PM, Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Raiguel Funeral Home, Harrisville with Dr. Gail Rymer officiating. Burial will follow in the Cairo IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 4-6:30 and Thursday from 11-12 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute funds to: The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, The Shiners', Vets, or Salvation Army. May God be merciful and we may be joined together in his heavenly home forever, Amen
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