W. Earl Cunningham

W. Earl Cunningham, 93, of Valdosta, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Lakehaven Nursing Home. He was known to many as "Cantaloupe".

He was born November 2, 1922 in Jennings, FL, a son of the late Dan S. and Mary A. Bradshaw Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham was a member of Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, Jennings, FL; a lifetime member of Valdosta Elks Lodge #428; the American Legion Post #13; a lifetime member of Azalea Masonic Lodge; had been a longtime member of Hasan Shrine Temple; and the Valdosta Touchdown Club for over fifty years. In addition to being an AVID Wildcat fan, he loved fishing and sports, and had played semi-pro baseball in the Georgia/Florida League. He honorably served in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands. Earl was always the life of the party; he enjoyed making people laugh. He was a mentor to many young men and had a special place in his heart for children.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-eight years, Lois Cunningham; a daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte and Joe Ford; a son, Steve Cunningham, all of Valdosta; four grandchildren, Brandon Ford (Stephanie) of Dallas, Jennifer Turner (Josh) of College Grove, TN, Will Cunningham (Larkin) of Manchester, and Kelly Dillavou (Shaun) of Simpsonville, SC; twelve great-grandchildren, Eli, Tessa, Georgia Grace and Amelia Ford, Hampton, Colby, Marion and Hawke Turner, Landin, Hudson, Heath Cunningham, and Reagan Dillavou; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Stanton Earl Cunningham; two brothers, Dan and Pete Cunningham; and five sisters, Neta Thomas, Weta Smith, Doris Bryan, Kate Harrell and Mary Emma Smith.

The Funeral Service for Mr. Cunningham will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2016, at the Chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home, with Elder Don Gilbert officiating. Interment will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. Visitation will "kick off" at 7:00 p.m. Friday, concluding at 9:00 p.m. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home, Valdosta.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602