David Charles Cunningham Sr.

David Charles Vandre Cunningham Sr., passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024 at the age of 87. David was born on May 13, 1936 in Watertown, Wisconsin, delivered by his maternal grandfather, Dr. Frederick C Haney, to his parents Almond M. Vandre and Doris L. Vandre. As a young boy, David loved to fly with his father in his biplane, delivering the mail to small remote Wisconsin towns. He idolized his father and was devastated at age six when his father tragically died in a plane crash as a volunteer serving the Royal Canadian Air Force in WWII. David was baptized and raised in the Lutheran Church. His mother later married Richard Cunningham Jr. and after several moves, the family settled in Houston. David graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston where he was on the Rifle team. He wanted to fly like his father and after high school, enlisted in the Air Force. While stationed in Arizona, he met and married the mother of his four children, Florence Ann Walsh Cunningham. He loved his time in the Air Force where he worked on advanced radar systems during the Cold War. David was assigned to five different locations in the eight years he served. but decided to transition to civilian life so that his children would have a stable location to attend school. The family settled back in Houston where David was employed by Texas Instruments, Litton Industries and Western Geophysical, first as an electronics engineer and later serving as Director of Quality Control. David served the Boy Scouts of America as a Scoutmaster for many years and was eventually awarded the Silver Beaver Award, for outstanding service to scouting. He loved the outdoors and continued camping well into his eighties with friends and family. In his own words, he stated that he wants to be remembered as a person who loved God, family, nature, the USA, and honesty. David was preceded in death by his father, Almond M. Vandre, his mother, Doris Cunningham, stepfather, Richard Cunningham Jr., stepbrother Richard Cunningham III, and son-in-law Ron Mitchell. He is survived by his sweetheart Jean Anderson, his brother Douglas Vandre and wife Carol, sisters Sharon Heath and Doree Osmun, his four children and spouses David Cunningham Jr, (Karen), Michael Cunningham (Billie), Patricia Purcell (John), and Kim Mitchell; his grandchildren and their spouses, Tommy Drake (Shae), Hailey Anver (Dean), Caitlin Cunningham, Holly Cunningham, Kyle Cunningham (Asha), Austin Purcell, Travis Purcell (Savannah), and great grandchildren: Zain Anver, David Wesley Campbell, Sophia Anver, Taylor Drake, Blake Campbell, and Theodore Cunningham; also by Jean Anderson’s children: Chuck Anderson (Susan), Patrick Anderson (Bernie), Angie Helman, Heidi Anderson, and grandchildren: Gordon Anderson, Katie Chahar (Anu), and Max Helman. Services will be held Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 10:00am to 11:00am at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038. Following the funeral service there will be a committal service from 11:30am to 12:00 pm at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038. In remembrance of David, donations can be made to Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation: https://secure2.convio.net/pwft/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20096b?df_id=1560&1560.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=0831618A68B935B9E13488A70DA534C6