David Windell Cunningham

David Windell Cunningham
Mr. Cunningham, 74, of Charlotte died June 21, 2005 at Presbyterian Hospital-Matthews. He was born January 12, 1931 in Union County and was the son of the late Ada Foard and John Harley Cunningham. He attended Wingate College and married the former Ruth Deese on April 10, 1951. Mr. Cunningham was associated with Shulman Air Freight and Burlington Air Express for a number of years. Currently he was Director of Music at Calvary United Methodist Church; accompanist for the St. James Male Chorus for over 30 years and was past director and accompanist of the Oasis Shrine Chanters for several years. He was a member of the Mint Hill Lodge #742 A.F. & A.M. and served as the past master of Temple Lodge #676 A.F. & A.M. He was a Shriner and received the honor of being nominated to the select group of the Order of Jesters. He was the past grand organist of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina as well as past director and accompanist for the Scottish Rite Ceremonial Choir. He was a masonic member for over 42 years. Mr. Cunningham toured the United States as accompanist to the theatrical singing couple known as Dorraine and Ellis and organized his own band, the 'Sounds Impressive.' He played for weddings, funerals, dance groups, nursing homes and for anyone who said 'Hey, Windell, play the piano!' He would respond with... 'I thought you would never ask.' He could play most any style and any song. Audiences would try to stump him with their song requests. Windell would say, 'If you call out a song I can't play, you have to stand up and sing it.'
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 25, 2005 at Calvary United Methodist Church with the Reverend Shirley Canty and Reverend Robert Boggan, Jr. officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 24, 2005 from 6:30-8:30 PM at McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Ruth Deese Cunningham; son, David Windell Cunningham, Jr. and his wife, Dawn, of Indian Trail, NC; daughters, Pat Cunningham and her husband, Paul Rybos, of Raleigh, NC, Denise Cunningham of Greenville, SC, Tracey Cunningham Dieguez and her husband, Oscar, of Indian Trail, NC; brother Bill Cunningham and his wife, Margaret, of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Jonathan Cunningham, Joseph Cunningham, Javier Dieguez and Isabella Dieguez. In addition to his parents, Mr. Cunningham was preceded in death by his brother, Dwight Cunningham; sister, Maxine Nelson; and grandson, Nathan Miller.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Crippled and Burned Children, c/o Oasis Temple of the Shrine, 604 Daniel Burnham Way, Charlotte, NC 28213., or to Calvary United Methodist Church, 512 West Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203.
Arrangements by McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel.