Lt. Col. Joe N. Cunningham (Ret.) of Murray, KY, born February 20, 1935, in St. Charles, KY, passed away on November 14, 2022 at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown, KY
Joe is preceded in death by his parents Calvin and Ophelia Cunningham, (wife of 36 years) Sarah Ann (Riddle) Cunningham, an infant sister, Edith Marie Cunningham, and two brothers, William (Bill) Cunningham and Bob Cunningham. Survivors include his sister, Sue Babbs, husband Don Babbs, wife of 27 years, Frances Wells Cunningham; Joe's children; son, Joel Cunningham and wife Cheryl Cunningham of Lawrenceville, GA, grandson, Neal Cunningham, and granddaughter Kathleen (Cunningham) Marchionne and husband Michael Marchionne; Daughter Lisa (Cunningham) Hamilton and husband Kirk Hamilton of Bardstown, KY, grandson Wesley Hamilton, granddaughter Sarah Hamilton; step-daughter, Fawn Wells McDonald and husband Rob McDonald of Murray, KY
Lt. Col. Cunningham spent 20 years in the U.S. Army focusing on logistics. He received the Legion of Merit award. He was deployed to Vietnam twice, and Korea once. Joe was responsible for overseeing Army interests at international ports including the Port of Mobile in AL, and the Port Rotterdam in the Netherlands. He was invited and attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA in 1976. Joe retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Pentagon in 1978. In his civilian career he was the State Port Director and ran the Port of Gulfport in Mississippi. Joe worked as a consultant on various port projects as well as consulting for the Hunt Brothers Inc. in Dallas, TX. He was the Economic Developer for Union County Kentucky and later became CEO of Thorp Aero, an aircraft manufacturing facility in Sturgis Kentucky.
Upon retirement, he moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1991. Family was important to Joe. He enjoyed close relationships with his wife and children. At the loss of his wife, Joe found love again and married Frances Knight Wells and have built a life together. Joe pursued a wide range of golf interests with many friends. Has been known to say he only plays golf on days that end with "y". He played in the Pensacola Pro/Armature tournament with Curtis Strange as his partner. He was actively involved in the "50s Football Bunch" comprised of Western Kentucky University football players and coaches of the 1950s.
Visitation will be at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis, KY on November 17th from 10 AM until service at 1 PM. Joe will be laid to rest at Pythian Ridge Cemetery in Sturgis, K
Joe is preceded in death by his parents Calvin and Ophelia Cunningham, (wife of 36 years) Sarah Ann (Riddle) Cunningham, an infant sister, Edith Marie Cunningham, and two brothers, William (Bill) Cunningham and Bob Cunningham. Survivors include his sister, Sue Babbs, husband Don Babbs, wife of 27 years, Frances Wells Cunningham; Joe's children; son, Joel Cunningham and wife Cheryl Cunningham of Lawrenceville, GA, grandson, Neal Cunningham, and granddaughter Kathleen (Cunningham) Marchionne and husband Michael Marchionne; Daughter Lisa (Cunningham) Hamilton and husband Kirk Hamilton of Bardstown, KY, grandson Wesley Hamilton, granddaughter Sarah Hamilton; step-daughter, Fawn Wells McDonald and husband Rob McDonald of Murray, KY
Lt. Col. Cunningham spent 20 years in the U.S. Army focusing on logistics. He received the Legion of Merit award. He was deployed to Vietnam twice, and Korea once. Joe was responsible for overseeing Army interests at international ports including the Port of Mobile in AL, and the Port Rotterdam in the Netherlands. He was invited and attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA in 1976. Joe retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Pentagon in 1978. In his civilian career he was the State Port Director and ran the Port of Gulfport in Mississippi. Joe worked as a consultant on various port projects as well as consulting for the Hunt Brothers Inc. in Dallas, TX. He was the Economic Developer for Union County Kentucky and later became CEO of Thorp Aero, an aircraft manufacturing facility in Sturgis Kentucky.
Upon retirement, he moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1991. Family was important to Joe. He enjoyed close relationships with his wife and children. At the loss of his wife, Joe found love again and married Frances Knight Wells and have built a life together. Joe pursued a wide range of golf interests with many friends. Has been known to say he only plays golf on days that end with "y". He played in the Pensacola Pro/Armature tournament with Curtis Strange as his partner. He was actively involved in the "50s Football Bunch" comprised of Western Kentucky University football players and coaches of the 1950s.
Visitation will be at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis, KY on November 17th from 10 AM until service at 1 PM. Joe will be laid to rest at Pythian Ridge Cemetery in Sturgis, K
Lt. Col. Joe N. Cunningham (Ret.) of Murray, KY, born February 20, 1935, in St. Charles, KY, passed away on November 14, 2022 at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown, KY
Joe is preceded in death by his parents Calvin and Ophelia Cunningham, (wife of 36 years) Sarah Ann (Riddle) Cunningham, an infant sister, Edith Marie Cunningham, and two brothers, William (Bill) Cunningham and Bob Cunningham. Survivors include his sister, Sue Babbs, husband Don Babbs, wife of 27 years, Frances Wells Cunningham; Joe's children; son, Joel Cunningham and wife Cheryl Cunningham of Lawrenceville, GA, grandson, Neal Cunningham, and granddaughter Kathleen (Cunningham) Marchionne and husband Michael Marchionne; Daughter Lisa (Cunningham) Hamilton and husband Kirk Hamilton of Bardstown, KY, grandson Wesley Hamilton, granddaughter Sarah Hamilton; step-daughter, Fawn Wells McDonald and husband Rob McDonald of Murray, KY
Lt. Col. Cunningham spent 20 years in the U.S. Army focusing on logistics. He received the Legion of Merit award. He was deployed to Vietnam twice, and Korea once. Joe was responsible for overseeing Army interests at international ports including the Port of Mobile in AL, and the Port Rotterdam in the Netherlands. He was invited and attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA in 1976. Joe retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Pentagon in 1978. In his civilian career he was the State Port Director and ran the Port of Gulfport in Mississippi. Joe worked as a consultant on various port projects as well as consulting for the Hunt Brothers Inc. in Dallas, TX. He was the Economic Developer for Union County Kentucky and later became CEO of Thorp Aero, an aircraft manufacturing facility in Sturgis Kentucky.
Upon retirement, he moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1991. Family was important to Joe. He enjoyed close relationships with his wife and children. At the loss of his wife, Joe found love again and married Frances Knight Wells and have built a life together. Joe pursued a wide range of golf interests with many friends. Has been known to say he only plays golf on days that end with "y". He played in the Pensacola Pro/Armature tournament with Curtis Strange as his partner. He was actively involved in the "50s Football Bunch" comprised of Western Kentucky University football players and coaches of the 1950s.
Visitation will be at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis, KY on November 17th from 10 AM until service at 1 PM. Joe will be laid to rest at Pythian Ridge Cemetery in Sturgis, K
Joe is preceded in death by his parents Calvin and Ophelia Cunningham, (wife of 36 years) Sarah Ann (Riddle) Cunningham, an infant sister, Edith Marie Cunningham, and two brothers, William (Bill) Cunningham and Bob Cunningham. Survivors include his sister, Sue Babbs, husband Don Babbs, wife of 27 years, Frances Wells Cunningham; Joe's children; son, Joel Cunningham and wife Cheryl Cunningham of Lawrenceville, GA, grandson, Neal Cunningham, and granddaughter Kathleen (Cunningham) Marchionne and husband Michael Marchionne; Daughter Lisa (Cunningham) Hamilton and husband Kirk Hamilton of Bardstown, KY, grandson Wesley Hamilton, granddaughter Sarah Hamilton; step-daughter, Fawn Wells McDonald and husband Rob McDonald of Murray, KY
Lt. Col. Cunningham spent 20 years in the U.S. Army focusing on logistics. He received the Legion of Merit award. He was deployed to Vietnam twice, and Korea once. Joe was responsible for overseeing Army interests at international ports including the Port of Mobile in AL, and the Port Rotterdam in the Netherlands. He was invited and attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA in 1976. Joe retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Pentagon in 1978. In his civilian career he was the State Port Director and ran the Port of Gulfport in Mississippi. Joe worked as a consultant on various port projects as well as consulting for the Hunt Brothers Inc. in Dallas, TX. He was the Economic Developer for Union County Kentucky and later became CEO of Thorp Aero, an aircraft manufacturing facility in Sturgis Kentucky.
Upon retirement, he moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1991. Family was important to Joe. He enjoyed close relationships with his wife and children. At the loss of his wife, Joe found love again and married Frances Knight Wells and have built a life together. Joe pursued a wide range of golf interests with many friends. Has been known to say he only plays golf on days that end with "y". He played in the Pensacola Pro/Armature tournament with Curtis Strange as his partner. He was actively involved in the "50s Football Bunch" comprised of Western Kentucky University football players and coaches of the 1950s.
Visitation will be at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis, KY on November 17th from 10 AM until service at 1 PM. Joe will be laid to rest at Pythian Ridge Cemetery in Sturgis, K
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