DAVID B. CUNNINGHAM

Glen Elder – David B. Cunningham, Glen Elder, KS passed away at Salina Regional Hospital after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on February 9, 2019, at the age of 64. He was born April 23, 1954, in Beloit, KS to Dean Robert “Bob” and Margaret (Way) Cunningham.
David graduated from Jamestown High School in Jamestown, KS in the class of 1972. He then attended Cloud County Community College in Concordia. He married his childhood friend and high school sweetheart, Brenda Jeanne Trude on November 3, 1973 at the United Methodist Church in Jamestown. They celebrated 45 years together. To this union two daughters were adopted, Kelsey and Keah.
David and Brenda resided in Jamestown, Cawker City and Glen Elder. He worked as the plant manager at Boettcher Enterprise in Jamestown for 10 years.
In 1983, David started working with his father to run the family business, Cunningham Telephone Company, in Glen Elder. He started out in accounting and later served as President of the company from 1993 until he retired in 2008. Throughout his career at the company he was responsible for its growth of employees and territories; David also launched the cable TV and Internet company, Cunningham Communications. He was very active in the telecommunications industry. Some highlights of David’s career include: serving on the Board of Directors for KTIA, where he had served as president; SITA; RTMC; Liberty Cellular; KINNET and Cunningham Communications. He was inducted into the Telecommunications Hall of fame in 2010.
He was active in his local community. He served on the Solomon Valley Economic Development Board of Directors, was a City Council member for Cawker City, a USD 272 School Board Member, a Mitchell County Hospital Board Member and an Administrative Elder for the Glen Elder Christian Church.
After retirement, David and Brenda spent many years traveling the world together. Their favorite places to visit were Las Vegas and Cancun, Mexico. They loved golfing, particularly on courses featured on PGA events. Time spent with his kids and grandkids was an absolute joy, as was caring for his father. Countless happy memories had been made over the years.
In addition to golfing, David’s hobbies included hunting and fishing, especially trips to Canada with his father, Bob; brother, John; nephews, Brent and Terry; and friends, Frank and Jake. He had a passion for training his bird dogs and hunting pheasants and quail. He raised quail to hunt and repopulate the rural area. He also assisted in the planning and construction of the Cawker City Golf Course.
David was a dedicated, loving husband, father and papa. He was patient, kind and generous, and will be greatly missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, John (Louise) Way and Dean (Hazel) Cunningham; father-in-law, Carl Trude; brother-in-law, Joe Glotzbach; aunt, Shirley (Walter) Klus; uncle, Jack Dear; and niece, Jaime Trude.
He leaves to mourn his passing, wife, Brenda Cunningham of the home; daughters, Kelsey (Matt) Lewis, Lenexa, and Keah Cunningham, Lawrence; grandchildren, Quentin and Elyce; brother, John (Janet) Cunningham; aunts, Judy (Jerry) Dean and Phyllis Dear; nephews, Brent (Jessica) Cunningham and Terry (Crystal) Cunningham; mother-in-law, Novella Trude; brother- and sister-in-laws, Jerry Trude, Donna (Roger) Barrett, Gary (Betty) Trude & Carol Glotzbach, as well as many other family and friends.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, February 15 at the Glen Elder Christian Church. Cremation has taken place & there will be no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Glen Elder Christian Church or Holt International.
Roberts Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsfamilyfs.com