H. Lee Cunningham
H. Lee Cunningham, 75, of Willow Lane, Pine Township, Grove City, died suddenly in his home on Monday morning.
Known by family and friends as “Lee” throughout his life, he was born in Miami, Dade County, Fla., on March 27, 1937, to the late H. Glenn and Carlotta Kerns Cunningham.
He married Delores J. Bain on Aug. 7, 1959, in the Tower Presbyterian Church, Grove City.
Lee was a graduate of Grove City High School, Class of 1955. He attended Grove City College from 1955 to 1957 and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
In 1959, he entered into business with his father as a funeral director in Grove City. Later, he was joined by his brothers and expanded to the Mercer area in 1974. His son, nephews and niece later joined the business. Lee served the community as a funeral director for 53 years and formerly operated an ambulance service with both brothers until 1974.
A standout athlete while at Grove City High School, Lee played football and basketball, was a member of the 1955 Mercer County All Star football team and later played football at Grove City College. While at Grove City College he was a member of the Epsilon Pi Fraternity and enjoyed active contact with his fellow members over the years. Lee served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves, the 339th General Hospital-Pittsburgh Unit.
Lee was a member of the Tower Presbyterian Church, Grove City, since 1959 and served as a deacon. He was a 3rd degree mason in the F&AM Masonic Lodge 603, Grove City, and was a former director of the First Seneca Bank and Integra Bank. He was a merit badge counselor for Boy Scout troops locally. In the 1970s and 1980s, Lee served on the State Legislature Board of Funeral Directors, Harrisburg.
Lee is survived by his wife, Delores “Dee” at home; two sons, Mark E. Cunningham and his wife, Rosann, of Mercer and Michael L. Cunningham and Janice A. Mills of Grove City; four granddaughters, Lauren A. Cunningham of Oceanside, Calif., Jacquelyn B. Previty of University Park, Pa., and Faith E. and Abigail G. Cunningham, both of Mercer; two brothers, Gary V. Cunningham and his wife, Judy, of Grove City and Larry K. “Joe” Cunningham and his wife, Kay, of Mercer; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
CUNNINGHAM — The funeral service for H. Lee Cunningham, who died Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, will be at the Tower Presbyterian Church, in the church sanctuary, 248 S. Broad St., Grove City, at 12:30 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Janice Good, pastor of the church, officiating.Visitation will be at the Cunningham Funeral Home, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City, from 2:30 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, Grove City.Memorial tributes in Lee's name may be made at the Tower Presbyterian Church, Grove City, or any Grove City charitable organization.
