James Walter Cunningham

James Walter Cunningham, Jr., age 82, of Madisonville, KY passed away on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at the Brighton Cornerstone Healthcare, Madisonville, KY. Mr. Cunningham was born on January 22, 1936 in Dawson Springs, KY to the late James Walter Cunningham, Sr., and Mary Mae Lovelace Cunningham. He served his country in the in the U.S. Navy for twenty years from 1953 through 1973 and retired as a Petty Officer. During that time he served in the Vietnam War. After having retired from the Navy he worked for eleven additional years at Providence #1 Coal Mine and became a proud member of the UMWA. He was a member of the Silent Run Baptist Church.



Mr. Cunningham is survived by his wife of 56 years, Anne J. Powell Cunningham of Madisonville, KY, and a brother and sister-in-law ~ Larry and Carolyn Cunningham of Beulah, KY.



Preceding Mr. Cunningham in death are his parents, two sisters ~ Jane Cunningham (departed 1975) and Grace Roberson (departed May 26, 2018).



Visitation for James Walter Cunningham, Jr., will be Saturday, June 2, 2018 from 11:00 AM until the funeral hour at 2:00 PM at Beshear Funeral Home, Dawson Springs, KY. Rev. Wayne Lamb will officiate the funeral service. The U.S. Navy Honor Guard will provide a Military Honor Service at the Silent Run Baptist Church Cemetery after his funeral service.



Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to be made to the Silent Run Baptist Church, 600 Silent Run Church Rd., Nebo, KY 42441.



Pallbearers include: Clint Cunningham, Jeff Cunningham, Junior Jones, Jeff Jones, Gene Whitmer and David Wyatt.