Joseph Alto Cunningham Sr.

Joseph Alto Cunningham Sr. passed away peacefully on August 19, 2026. He will be lovingly remembered by his family and friends as a caring, considerate man who never met a stranger and whose kindness touched many lives.

Joseph was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 60 years, Stella Romero Cunningham; his parents, Noah and Blanche Cunningham; and his brothers and sisters, Vonda, Carlos, Maxine, Calvin, Delmus “Pete,” Robert, and Royce. He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Richard Romero.

He is survived by his brother, Jerry Cunningham, and sister, Myra Davidson; his sons, Joseph Cunningham Jr. and Hortencia, and Michael Cunningham and Anne Broussard; and his five grandchildren, Joseph III and Stacey, Christopher and Bonnie, Kelly and Mark Barta, Whitney and Ben Delgado II, and Hailey Cunningham. He was blessed with many great-grandchildren: Maile, Joseph IV, Jacob, Savanna, Addisyn, Evie, Ellie, Jayden, Ashlyn, Ben III, and Noah. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Mike Henry Romero, sister-in-law, Diane Alex Romero, and many beloved nieces and nephews in Texas and Florida.

Joseph was born in Covington, Alabama. He attended Escambia Farms Elementary School and Falco High School in Alabama through the ninth grade.

In 1951, Joseph proudly joined the United States Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, where he met the love of his life, Stella. Stella worked at the Palace Theater downtown, which Joseph frequently visited on his days off. Their love story led to marriage on August 8, 1953, beginning more than six decades of life together.

Joseph later earned his GED and continued his military training at Fort Sam Houston, where he received basic medic training. He went on to serve in the Food Service Department and Fire Department at Randolph Air Force Base. Throughout his Air Force career, he had multiple deployments, including assignments to Shemya, Alaska, and Kunsan, Korea.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1972, Joseph continued his service through a 20-year career in Civil Service at Randolph Air Force Base, where he worked in the OSHA Department. He also worked at Air Force Village, serving as a guard at the front gate for retired officers.

Joseph was a devoted member of his community and belonged to St. Luke Catholic Church organizations, including the Knights of Columbus and St. Luke’s Men’s Club. He was also a member of the Alhambra, American Legion, NCOA, and the Canary Islands Heritage Group.

Outside of work and service, Joseph enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He loved fishing at Calaveras Lake with his good friend Mel Colson. He enjoyed hunting whenever he could, especially dove and deer hunting in Comfort, Texas. He took great pride in tending his garden and keeping his lawn beautifully manicured. These were more than hobbies—they reflected his love of the outdoors, his hardworking nature, and the care he brought to everything he did.

Joseph was a man of strong faith, deep family devotion, and a generous heart. He loved his family dearly and leaves behind a lifetime of memories that will be cherished by all who knew him. He will be deeply missed, but his family takes comfort in knowing that he is now at peace and that, through their faith, they will see him again in Heaven.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Golden Oaks Assisted Living for providing such wonderful care to Joseph. Special thanks are also extended to Christus Hospice for their compassionate caregivers and nurses who cared for his medical needs, and to Rivercity Home Health for providing the family with an exceptional caregiver whose kindness and dedication meant so much.

Services

Visitation will be held at St. Luke Catholic Church, 4603 Manitou Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78238, on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

The Rosary will follow at the church from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m.

A reception will follow the Mass in the church hall.

Joseph will be cremated following the services. A military service honoring his years of faithful service to his country will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at a later date.

Joseph’s life was one of love, faith, service, family, and devotion. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.