A loving tribute

William Whitney Cunningham, Sr., a man whose life was marked by choices and challenges, passed away the day after Thanksgiving this year. To me, he was a friend, advisor and my father-in-law, but to Lois, he was Dad.

As a dentist, Lois's Dad was a perfectionist in his procedures and astute in his business practices. As a teacher at Baltimore School of the Bible, he impacted hundreds, if not thousands, of people around the world. About 50 years ago, he helped launch Congress, an annual evangelical retreat for singles aged 16 and over, at Greenwood Hills Conference Center in Fayetteville, PA. It continues to this day and is still influencing teens and young adults for Jesus Christ long after he stopped being involved.

As a travel agent, he traveled to every continent and more than 130 countries, often at the expense of carriers and hotels seeking his business. I remember when he went to Egypt for a $47, four-day weekend, because it was cheaper than staying home. It was also his first attempt at self-producing a video to entice potential travel clients. Much of it was shot while riding a camel near the pyramids. We politely watched it, but I don't think it sold many tours.

He was a wheeler-dealer, an entrepreneur always ahead of his time, a vintage car collector, and as one nephew describes, "The family's great orator with a phenomenal command of English language, prose, and poems. He ranks along with William F Buckley, with Uncle Billy's heart being a little left of the center."

Another friend said, "My memories of your Dad are of happiest days, and his laughter and fun were contagious."

He was an over achiever who was not always appreciated. It seemed he always had a better, a cheaper, and faster way to do something and could talk anyone else into doing it, whether he pursued it or not. He was never at a loss for words, comments, or opinions. He had plenty and was not shy about sharing them, but doggone it, they were always creative, interesting and often humorous, unless you were the brunt of his ire. If you disagreed with him . . . well, let's just say it wasn't pretty.

He was never one to talk about, or admit, his age. It seems everyone his age was so much "older" than he. For a while, he even stopped "having" birthdays, yet when he turned 80, no one was surprised, just polite. In fact, to celebrate his 80th, he issued a family proclamation that everyone - all 23 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren - was to go on a free cruise to Bermuda with him. No one had to be asked twice.

He moved to St. Charles, Illinois, near Chicago, this past year to live with Lois' sister, Christie, as his health was rapidly declining. He couldn't see to drive anymore, and he was physically losing strength to diabetes and a weak heart. He joined the local V.F.W. for the first time, rode in the Veterans Day parade, and bought an electric scooter so he could "drive" himself to the nearest Starbucks. Just because he was 87, it didn't mean he had to be old!

Lois had a wonderful conversation with him Monday, just before Thanksgiving, and he was looking forward to gathering with family under the big shade tree on the family homestead at Cuddebackville, New York, to celebrate July 4th next year, an old family custom. Instead, we will gather to spread his ashes and we too, will tell stories about the man who raised my wife and her siblings, and who is known to some as Dad, to others as Poppa Bill ("Grandpa" was an age identifier), and to many as Uncle Bill. He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten.