Eugene Cunningham

Eugene N. Cunningham, 77, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born Nov. 25, 1928, in Cape Girardeau, son of the late Roy H. and Emily Kage Cunningham. He and LaVerne Pace were married Nov. 19, 1948, in Harrisburg, Ark. She survives.

On Feb. 19, 1953, he was inducted into the United States Air Force. He was honorably discharged Jan. 8, 1957, as an airman first class.

Eugene attended high school in Blytheville, Ark. He owned and operated High View Park on Highway 61 north of Jackson from 1949 to 1974; was a substitute mail carrier for the Jackson Post Office; and worked for the former Landgraf Construction Co. He worked part-time for Sears in Cape Girardeau for 15 years, retiring from Cape County Transit in 1998.

Eugene enjoyed woodworking, and loved to build model airplanes. He had a private pilot's license, and was a former member of Southeast Missouri Modeler Association.

Loving survivors include his wife of 57 years, a daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Johnny Kestner of Sikeston, Mo.; a grandson, Shawn (Jennifer) Seabaugh of Sikeston; two great-grandchildren, Kyler and Katie.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister.

Friends may call today from 4 to 8 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Richard Combs officiating. Interment will follow in Cape County Memorial Park, with graveside military honors.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to American Heart Association.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.