Rev. Bill Cunningham's Obituary
REVEREND BILL CUNNINGHAM
Committal services for Reverend Bill Cunningham, 77, of Longview will be 10:00 am Monday at the Rosewood Mausoleum Chapel. Burial, under the direction of Rader Funeral Home, will follow at Rosewood Park. Funeral services will be 11:00 am at the First United Methodist Church, 400 N. Fredonia St., with Dr. Connie Winborn, Dr. Pat Sparks, Reverend David Lindwall, and Dr. Asbury Lenox officiating. Reverend Cunningham died Thursday evening at a local medical center.
He was born August 28, 1930 at Cleveland, Texas to William R. and Jewel Coker Cunningham. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State University. On September 4, 1951 he married his devoted wife of 56 years, Jane Seitz. Bill became an ordained Methodist minister in 1954. He served churches in the Bedias Circuit, Lovelady, Magnolia, Willis, Alto, Brazoria, Marshall, and Lindale, Texas. In 1985 he came to the First United Methodist Church of Longview as Associate Minister of Pastoral Care where he served until his retirement in 1998. He continued serving on a part-time basis for several years.
He is survived by his wife, Jane of Longview; a son, David William Cunningham of Marshall; a son and daughter-in-law, Larry Wayne and Linda Cunningham of Longview; his grandchildren: Christy Cunningham Godwin, Matthew, Bethany, Robert, and Timothy Cunningham; two great grandchildren; and brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Gayle Cunningham of Kingwood, Texas.
Visitation will be at Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Rd., Sunday afternoon 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Longview Memorial Fund at 400 N. Fredonia St. Longview, TX 75601 or to the Newnham Sunday School Class c/o the First United Methodist Church.
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