Joe Cunningham

Joe Cunningham, 94, of Paducah, formerly of Metropolis, died Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at Mercy Health-Lourdes Hospital in Paducah.

Born March 27, 1931, Joe was the eldest son of Leta and Toots Smith Cunningham. Growing up, Joe helped with the family's pecan orchard and also with their seasonal musseling business as he trolled along the Ohio River between Metropolis and Joppa.

After graduating high school in 1951 Joe joined the Navy to ride the waves, but was sent to the Mohave Desert for a year before eventually getting duty on an LST headed to Korea. Joe was honorably discharged in 1956. He returned to Metropolis and began working at EEI where he retired after 35 years.

Joe married his high school sweetheart Nancy Burnam on July 29, 1952. They were married for 49 years and have two sons, Scott and Jeff. Nancy passed away in June 2001.

Among Joe's numerous hobbies, woodcarving was most enjoyable. Over a period of 40-plus years, he created and sold a variety of wood-carved birds, Santa Claus figures, a rocking horse for his only granddaughter, and two carousel horses named Miss Maggie and Chester. Referring to himself as a "river rat," in recent years he began searching the banks of the Ohio River, looking for driftwood he used in his artistic work. Later when homebound during COVID, he carved two handsome horse heads he named COVID and 2020. Joe's legacy as a woodcarver and some of his recent works were featured in Paducah Sun's Posh Magazine, issued in the fall of 2020. Also, in 2020 and 2021, he began a new hobby, creating lovely jewelry pieces from old silverware.

Sharing life with Joe in Paducah since 2003 was Maggie Hamper, who was his best friend and companion. Joe and Maggie were devoted to each other and they counted their blessings for the time they had together dancing, bicycling, walking, golfing, playing ping pong, "drifting along the Ohio River," and junking together.

Joe was a member of First Christian Church in Metropolis where he had treasured friends.

Joe is survived by his sons, Scott Cunningham and Jeff Cunningham and wife Kim; his beloved granddaughter, Madison Cunningham; his companion, Maggie Hamper; his brother, Bill Cunningham and wife Sue; and his sister-in-law, Sally Kimbrell.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Nancy.

Graveside services with military rites will be held on at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at Metropolis Memorial Gardens with Rev. Micah Spicer officiating.

In lieu of flowers, Joe requested contributions be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105; or Paducah/McCracken County Senior Citizens' Center, 1400 H.C. Mathis Drive, Paducah, Kentucky 42001.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.