DRAKESBORO – William Gene Cunningham, 86, of Drakesboro, died Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 12:47 p.m. at Charter Senior Living in Bowling Green. Born August 4, 1937 in East Chicago, Ind., the third of three children. He spent much of his childhood in Black Oak, Ind., in a house his parents built. He graduated from Calumet High School in 1955 and attended Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee. He married Joyce Drake in 1959. He began working as a lab technician at Glidden Metals and through the years advanced to the position of Operations Manager. In 1977, his family moved to Drakesboro as he pursued his dream to farm and live in the country. He retired from his job at Goodyear Tire and Rubber in 1999. Besides his wife, Joyce, and his children, Bill loved the outdoors. Throughout his life, he coached his kids’ baseball and softball teams, ran a small cattle farm, and along with Joyce, raised much of their own food. He enjoyed cutting wood, fishing, and riding his 4-Wheeler over his farm. Friends and relatives were always welcome to enjoy all these things with him and Joyce. Bill had attended First Assembly of God in Greenville with Joyce but recently rededicated his life to Jesus. Heaven is richer as he and Joyce share eternity together with their Lord. He was preceded in death by Joyce; parents, Oscar and Nora Lee Cunningham; and brothers, Thomas Gilbert Cunningham, and Ronald Earl Cunningham.
Survivors include his daughter, Crystal (Mark) Chapman; sons, William Scott (Sheila) Cunningham, and Edward Gene (Kelley) Cunningham; grandchildren, Nathan (Liz) Chapman, J. Hope Chapman, Sarah Chapman, William (Reagan) Cunningham, Rachel (Israel) Vargas, Aaron Cunningham, Sofia Cunningham, and Zachary Cunningham; and great-grandchildren, Clarissa Chapman, Samuel Chapman, and Mabel Cunningham; sister, Betty Fekete; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday March 13, 2024 at 11a.m. at Tucker Funeral Home in Central City with Bro. Ed Tackett officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Oak Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home and 9-11 a.m. on Wednesday before the service. Online condolences may be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.
