Betty Rush Rush Cunningham

Betty Rush Cunningham, 86, of Amherst, died August 4, 2015 in Virginia Baptist Hospital after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-three years, the late Arthur “Warren” Cunningham.

Born July 27, 1929 in Abingdon, VA, Betty was the sixth of seven children born to the late John Calvin Rush and the late Beulah White Rush Hennon.

Soon after graduating high school, Betty married Warren Cunningham. They settled in Washington County, VA and started raising a family. Eventually she and her family relocated to Amherst County and she took a job with the General Electric Corporation in Lynchburg. She was the friendly and helpful voice on the switchboard for many G.E. callers. She retired from G.E. after thirty-five years of dedicated service.

Upon retirement, Betty followed her true passions of homemaking and family nurturing. Known as “Maw-Maw” to her grandchildren, she was a mother and grandmother that never held back giving insightful advice, while supporting her family with dedicated love. Betty peacefully departed this world wrapped in the love of her family and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was preceded in death by brothers, Richard and Ted Rush and sisters, Calvin Moore and Dorothy (Dot) Cunningham.

She is survived by son, Arthur Warren Cunningham, Jr. and wife Lynn of Amherst: daughter, Irene Cunningham Dean and husband J.W. of Monroe; son, Larry Richard Cunningham and wife Lucy of Riner; one sister, Freda Rush Sutphin of Tallahassee, FL; one brother, Jack Rush of Bristol, TN; grandsons, Eric Dean and Luke Cunningham (and their wives); granddaughters, Amy Dean, Tanya Coffey, and Tara Miles (and their husbands); eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and special friends, Peggy Viar and Lynn Chaplin.

A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Whitten Monelison Chapel with the Rev. Larry Erbin officiating. Interment will follow at Briarwood Memorial Gardens.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:30-8:00 p.m., Friday, August 7, 2015 at the funeral home and other times at the residence.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest donations be made to Hospice of the Hills, c/o Virginia Baptist Hospital, 3300 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503 or Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, P.O. Box 20986, Roanoke, VA 24018.

Whitten Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Monelison Chapel (434-929-5712) is assisting the family with arrangements.

To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.whittenmonelison.com.

Whitten Monelsion Chapel, 3966 S. Amherst Highway, Madison Heights, is serving the family.