Elva Eileen Cunningham

Life Story

Elva Eileen Cleveland-Cunningham was born November 7, 1917, at the family farmhouse near Seward, Illinois. The daughter of Inez and Wilson Cleveland, she was the longest surviving child of the family. She had a sister, Eleanor, a brother, William (Bill) and five half brothers and sisters: Blanche, Millie, Roy, Leslie, and Merlyn (Pat). Elva is survived by son, Larry Cunningham, daughter, Linda Nunn, grandchildren, Leiala Michael, James Cunningham, and Patrick Cunningham, together with great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

What an amazing life Elva led and imagine the changes she saw in a century! Elva described the apple orchard on the farm where her Dad put up a swing. Elva had fond memories of picking cherries with her sisters so their mother could make delicious cherry pies. There was a large vegetable garden and the main crop was corn. They also raised chickens, horses and cows. When her mother heard company was coming, she would go to the chicken house, grab a chicken, chop off its head, pluck the feathers, and have it ready to eat in no time. Sadly, the farm was lost during the depression, forcing the family to move to a house in the small town of Seward.

Elva was valedictorian when she graduated from Leaf River High School in 1935. Her favorite subject was spelling. Many years later, she would always correct spelling on Larry and Linda’s homework. Elva received a State Elementary School Certificate from Illinois State Normal University in 1937.

While in college, she shared a room with her high school friend, Jean Kilbourn. In 2011, Jean wrote a letter reminding Elva they didn’t usually go home on weekends, but she did remember one time when they were hanging out at a gas station on a Friday hoping to hitch-hike home for the weekend. They didn’t catch a ride, but Jean recalled Elva was a little sweet on the guy at the gas station!

For school year 1937-1938, Elva’s first job was teaching grades 1-8 at a country school in Cedarville, Illinois. In the winter she had to build her own fires in the stove before classes started and the arrival of the kids. She also remembered there were no inside bathrooms. Nevertheless, she recalled many happy days, mostly when the children performed programs for parents and hung May baskets. Of course, there were the spelling bees. From 1939 through 1942 she taught grades 1-8 at White Country School in Winnebago. From 1944 to 1948, Elva taught grades 1 and 2 at the elementary school in Seward. Around 1944-46, one of her students was her niece, Donna Sass-Reber.

Elva met Don Cunningham at a dance and soon after, they began dating. Brother, Bill, tells the story of the first time Don came courting. Bill was about 12 or 13 years old, a skinny kid peeking out the window, when he heard Don drive up in his shiny spiffed-up car. Bill saw an athletic-looking guy get out of his car, trot over to the picket fence and, ignoring the gate, grab the top of a fence post and vault over the fence just to show off. Elva must have been duly impressed because they were married on May 10, 1941. They honeymooned at Yellowstone National Park. Soon after, Don bought Elva a pair of red leather hunting boots and a 20 gauge shotgun. Bill claimed he used the shotgun more than his big sister did. On June 27, 1941, Don left for Chicago to go into Army basic training. In October of 1941, while stationed in Ft. Riley, Kansas, Don wrote to Elva to be more careful after she fell and skinned up her knees. On June 12, 1942, Elva arrived at Junction City, Kansas, to join Don.

During her stay at Ft. Riley, Elva wrote to her friend, Jean, and told about the living arrangements in which they shared a house with 2 other people and it didn’t even have a kitchen sink. Don and Elva often went fishing with other soldiers.

As most of you know, Elva is remembered for her delicious cookies, pies and casseroles, but she didn’t start out as an experienced baker. Having never made a crust before, she tried her first apple pie – the apples weren’t done, the crust got burned and it seemed to be lacking in juice. Apparently she kept practicing until she perfected her pie-making skills!

In World War II, Don served at the 33rd General Hospital in North Africa and then in Italy. Elva lived alternately with her parents and Don’s parents while she continued teaching.

Son, Larry,was born in 1943, in Rockford, Illinois, and Elva raised him for over 2 years without ever seeing Don. Elva’s brother, Bill, told the story about Don’s home-coming when Larry was just a toddler. Apparently, their first meeting went pretty well until bedtime. Larry did not like the idea of that new man sleeping with his mother and threw a tantrum. As the story goes, Don had to leave the room until Larry was calmed down and went to sleep.

After the war, Don built a lovely 2-story home on Cunningham Road in Winnebago, Illinois. Linda was born in 1952. Soon after Linda’s birth, the family moved to Tucson, bringing Elva’s mother, where they lived for 5 years. While in Tucson, Don built a second home on 32nd Street east of Craycroft Road. In 1957, they returned to Illinois, where Don built Elva her 3rd and final custom home. This home was again built on Cunningham Road.

In 1962 the family once again returned to Tucson so Larry could establish residency to avoid out-of-state tuition the last 2 years at the UofA. Don and Elva remained in Tucson the rest of their lives. Elva resumed teaching in 1965, doing substitute work at Pender’s Kindergarten and Saguaro Kindergarten. In 1967 she worked full time at Saguaro Kindergarten and for school years 67-69, she taught pre-kindergarten at Little Beaver School. From 1970 to 1978 she taught pre-kindergarten at Christ Church United Methodist. She always seemed to do extra activities for the children. The parents often complimented her on her natural abilities with small children. Kathy Williams taught with her and recalled that her 4 year old son, Stephen, loved Elva’s hearty laugh.

Elva’s favorite decade may have been the 60’s – no, not sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll! Instead, Sundays often found the family at Molina’s Midway where Elva invariably ordered one cheese and ground beef enchilada. Saturday or Sunday evenings were spent with brother, Bill Cleveland and his wife, Marjorie; while the 5 children played board games and watched scary movies, the adults played cards and ate popcorn in a glass of milk (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it). During the 60’s the family also had many camping trips because they liked being outdoors much more than vacations that involved staying in motels. There were social occasions with cousin, Delores and Frank Flanders and their 3 children. Delores and Elva gave each other permanents while Frank and Don were off riding motorcycles. Then in the late 60’s the grandchildren started arriving.

Elva was an excellent homemaker—the laundry and ironing was always done and the home was kept meticulously clean. Weekdays, a full evening meal was prepared and ready to eat when Don got home from work. Elva was always quick to help those in need—often showing up with a casserole for a sick friend or neighbor.

Elva had various hobbies and interests. She liked music, playing both trombone and piano. She also had a lovely singing voice. She was even heard harmonizing at age 98 and singing a cappella at age 99. She enjoyed being outdoors and especially loved to work in the yard, always displaying lovely flowers. One hobby was “junking” with Wanda Robertson. This meant going to thrift stores to buy bargain antique furniture, which they would then refinish. Of course, Don’s help was often enlisted when a piece needed repair. She also enjoyed occasional trips to the casino to play the slots with Marj Cleveland. In addition to all of the above interests, it may be a little known secret that Elva enthusiastically watched all of the UofA basketball games on TV—she was an avid fan!

Elva and Don liked to travel. Elva thoroughly enjoyed the trips to visit the Illinois relatives. A trip to Northern Arizona in 1966 included the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, and the Painted Desert. Later trips were to Glacier Park and Canada in 1972, Tonto National Forest in 1980, Caribbean with Helen and Lawrence Fry in 1982, Zion National Park and Lake Powell with Bill and Marj in 1986. Her most memorable trip was going to Alaska with Bill and Marj in 1989. She was particularly proud of the big halibut she caught in Glacier Bay and especially liked the float plane. Of course stops were made to visit nieces, Jane, Cay and Ginger and their families. Her final trip was with Linda in 2008 to see Don’s older sister, Dorothy Lighthart, in Bullhead City, Arizona. Naturally, Elva insisted on staying at a Casino across the river in Laughlin Nevada, and Linda had to drag her away from the slot machines when it was time to head for home!

Elva’s husband, Donald, died March 8, 2006.

Elva moved to Care Stone/Elmcroft Assisted Living at age 93 and to Starfish Care Home at age 97. Both homes provided the appropriate level of care for her needs. For over 3 years Elva received much TLC at Starfish Care Home, where everyone enjoyed her sweet personality and quick smile, even while she was experiencing Alzheimer’s disease.

Elva had a special relationship with so many people—everyone seemed to adore her, whether they were her students, her friends, her neighbors, or her many relatives on both the Cleveland and Cunningham side of the family. Friend, Kathy Williams, wrote, “Elva stood for all that is good about the human race. She possessed so many fine qualities and was always an inspiration to me. Thinking about Elva makes my heart sing.” The cardiologist who implanted a pacemaker for Elva (she was age 93) said several times he liked “tough old broads like Elva!” Niece, Ginger Goldman, recalls Elva’s trademark laugh.

Elva passed October 8, 2017, one month shy of her 100th birthday. She will be missed.

Compiled by Linda Nunn