BOONE, Iowa—Eldon Ray Cunningham, Sr., the son of Lawrence William and Amanda Pearl (Wilkinson) Cunningham was born on October 24, 1941, in Waynoka, Oklahoma. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 82 on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in Boone, Iowa.
Eldon was born in the front room of his grandfather’s home in Waynoka, Oklahoma. He attended school in Oregon and Alva, Oklahoma, graduating from Alva High School on May 29, 1960. Shortly after graduation Eldon joined the United States Marine Corp, serving proudly and honorably from 1960 to 1963, spending time in Okinawa, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and the Philippines, reaching the rank of Lance Corporal.
Eldon was united in marriage to Alberta Pearl Mundy on March 5, 1962, in Alva, Oklahoma. While in the military, Eldon and Alberta, started their lives together near a military base in California, eventually making their way back to Alva, Oklahoma where their five sons Larry, Eldon Jr., Steven, Darren, and Christopher were born.
Eldon worked very hard to provide for his family, beginning his work at the Alva Review Courier in April 1963, in the mailroom. To make ends meet, Eldon worked at an apartment complex painting and performing maintenance duties and worked alongside his wife at the local American Legion Hall.
Eldon moved his family to Boone, Iowa in 1974, after being transferred to the Boone News Republican where he worked as their production manager until retiring in 2006.
Eldon was a man of faith and had a very special relationship with his Lord and Savior. He joined the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he was ordained to the office of Deacon in 1975, and eventually to the office of Elder in November of 1990. He served as Pastor for more than a decade at the Church of Jesus Christ Des Moines NE Restoration Branch, in Des Moines, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Cunningham; mother, Amanda Cunningham-Shelton; step-father, Dale Shelton; son, Christopher Lynn Cunningham; grandson, Lawrence William Cunningham; two sisters, Sherri Lynn Ross and Janice Lee Olson.
Eldon is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years Alberta Cunningham; four sons, Larry (Barbara) Cunningham, Eldon, Jr. (Jennifer) Cunningham, Steven (Susannah) Cunningham, Darren (Lori) Cunningham; grandchildren, Joshua (Jessica) Cunningham, Eldon III (Lindsay) Cunningham, Kaitlyn Cunningham, Christopher (Angela) Cunningham, Stephanie (Jared) Rowlett, Jacob Cunningham, Devon Cunningham, Kyle Cunningham, Brandon (Serena) Cunningham; 14 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday, January 12, 2024, at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel, 1006 6th Street, in Boone. Funeral service will be 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the funeral home. The funeral will be livestreamed and a link will be available under the Events Section of Eldon’s obituary on the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel website. Burial will be in Linwood Park Cemetery, Boone with military honors by the Boone Veterans Council. There will also be a luncheon at the Erb Center at the Boone County Fairgrounds, 1601 Industrial Park Road in Boone following the graveside service.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Eldon’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
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