Robert Cunning

Surviving are his wife of 59½ years, Barbara J. (Soliday) Cunning and three children, Becky (Ed) Lux, Bobbie (Bob) Dienhart, and Bill (Deedee) Cunning; six grandchildren: Joe, Dan, Alyssa, and Pete Lux; Chip and Curt Cunning; and two great-grandchildren.

Bob was born March 19, 1931 in Mansfield to John J. and Depthana G. (Bemiller) Cunning, who preceded him in death. Robert was the oldest of their three children and is survived by siblings Dorothy Driskell (Gerald "Jerry" Chappell) of Westerville and Charles J. Cunning of Gaffney, SC.

Bob was an active member of several community boards including the Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority (president), the Richland County Regional Planning Commission (past president) and the Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center & Outdoor Historical Drama. He previously served on the Mansfield City Council and Mansfield Charter Commission. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Mansfield and the Baku Grotto.

Bob became interested in researching his family’s history in his early life and became involved with other genealogists in Richland County who organized The Ohio Genealogical Society. In 1964, it was reorganized as the Richland County Genealogical Society, the first county chapter of The Ohio Genealogical Society. Bob published a 5 volume set of the Richland County Cemetery Records. He served as president of the Richland County Genealogical Society before serving as president of the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS). He served as a trustee on the OGS board for over 30 years and was instrumental in planning the new OGS Library built near Bellville. Last year OGS honored Bob with their President’s Award, and the OGS Board named the Lending Library Room in honor of Robert Allen Cunning.

Cunning graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in 1949 and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Ohio University in 1955. While at OU, he helped organize the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers on the Ohio University campus and served as its first president. Bob was one of the original organizers of the Ashland-Mansfield Branch of the Cleveland Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Bob was a Professional Engineer licensed in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, and a Registered Surveyor in Ohio. He served as Deputy and Chief Deputy Engineer for Richland County since 1997 until his recent appointment as Interim County Engineer. Prior to working for Richland County, Bob was chairman of Richland Engineering Limited. He previously served as a partner in Cunning & Little Consulting Engineers and as Assistant City Engineer for Mansfield in the mid-sixties.

Friends may visit from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, November 25, 2011 at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond Street, Mansfield. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 2011 at the funeral home with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow in Bellville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio Genealogical Library, 611 State Route 97 West, Bellville, OH 44813 or the American Diabetes Association.