James H. Cunningham

JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM

James H. Cunningham, age 91, formerly of 114 Main Street, Catawissa, died at 6:04 a. m. Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Davis Manor, Mountain Top where he was a patient since January 22, 2010. He had been in failing health over two years.

Born in Seward, Westmoreland County,on September 14, 1918, he was a son of the late Wade H. and Sarah R. (Atwell) Cunningham. He resided in Catawissa since 1945.

Jim was last employed by Zeisloft Brother's, Chrysler, Dodge & Plymouth as a mechanic, working there from 1975 to 1989 when he retired. Earlier he was employed by US Radium, Corp., Almedia for ten years and also at the former Foster B. Kern's, Catawissa Garage, Inc., an International Harvester dealership in Catawissa.

He was a World War II veteran serving with the US Army in North Africa. He was captured by the German forces and held as a prisioner of war for 27 months.

Jim was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8306, Catawissa; the Prisoner of War Association; the Disabled American Veterans; and the Catawissa Hose Co.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, the former Vivian M. Kern , on October 3, 2009; three brothers: Charles V. Cunningham, Hugh D. Cunningham, Wade E. Cunningham; and by four sisters: Catherine A. Hoppes, Helen E. Nygren, Marian Stadler, and E. Mae Shoemaker.

Surviving are two sons: James L. Cunningham, and his wife Jane, Bloomsburg; George M. Cunningham, Stillwater; two grandsons: James H. Cunningham, II and Jason Cunningham; a great-grandson, Joel Cunningham; and a brother, Paul E. "Gene" Cunningham, and his wife Anna Mae, Bloomsburg.

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 1:30 p. m. in the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg, with the Rev. Allen F. Acor, pastor of the Hendrickson-Mooresburg United Methodist Churches officiating. Interment with full military honors will be made in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge.

Friends may call on Thursday from 6-8 p. m. at the funeral home.