Cover photo for Richard Cunningham's Obituary
1921 Richard 2021

Richard Cunningham

March 28, 1921 — February 22, 2021

Waco, Texas

Richard Cunningham, 99, of Waco, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 22, 2021 after a brief illness.  A Funeral Service will be 11 am, Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.  A Visitation with the family will be an hour prior.  Interment will be 11 am, March 2, at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. Face masks and social distancing will be required.

Dick was born March 28, 1921 to Leslie and Lenora Cunningham in New Salisbury, Ohio, the oldest of four children.  After a childhood of hunting, fishing, ice skating and baseball, Richard joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in Montana.  He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy September 25, 1940.  He was a Chief Boatswain’s Mate on the U.S.S. West Virginia, which was sent to join the fleet at Pearl Harbor in Oahu and was present when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  He was a proud survivor of the Pearl Harbor bombing and returned for the 60th anniversary.

He spent his career working in aerodynamics at both Rocketdyne and General Dynamics and retired from the Rohan Company in Waco. He married Patty Westerfeld in 1984.  He was very creative and industrious; in retirement he enjoyed painting, carpentry, music, was an avid golfer and even refurbished a home in Crawford. Dick was a Mason for 50 years and a member of First Woodway Baptist Church.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years, Patty; daughters, Linda Toth (Robert), Gail Klatil (Dennis), Karen Allen (LaVon), Donna Zimmerman (Bobby); 11 grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren.

Registry for Richard Cunningham

To send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Cunningham, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Funeral Service

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

Grace Gardens Funeral Home & Crematorium

8220 Woodway Drive, Woodway, TX 76712

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Visitation

Saturday, February 27, 2021

10:00 - 11:00 pm (Central time)

Grace Gardens Funeral Home & Crematorium

8220 Woodway Drive, Woodway, TX 76712

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Interment

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery (Killeen)

11463 Texas 195, Killeen, TX 76542

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Photo Gallery

Visits: 0

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Send a Card

Send a Card