David Lynn Cunningham

David Lynn Cunningham
 April 16, 1938 - November 24, 2024

David L. Cunningham passed unexpectedly on November 24, 2024. Born April 16, 1938, Dave went on to live a fabulous life. Growing up in Trenton, Illinois as a teenager Dave worked in his father’s slaughterhouse in O’Fallon, and was driving the meat to the family grocery store in Trenton even before he had a driver’s license. After high school Dave moved on to the University of Illinois where on a double blind date, he met the love of his life, best friend, and life partner Sherry. (Sherry was the blind date of the other guy) Dave graduated from Illinois with a degree in engineering and moved out to California with Sherry right on his heels. Dave started with Autonetics as an engineer and also went to night classes at UCLA, finishing a master's degree in systems engineering. He and Sherry married in September of 1962, and they were life partners and best friends for over 62 years.

Living in Southern California, first in an apartment in Anaheim right by Disneyland, and then buying a house in Orange, they fell in love with the desert camping on weekends out with the Rock Club. They had two children, Erin and Troy, and they dragged them along on camping trips which the kids came to love. Erin slept in a drawer in the camper as a baby, and later the whole family would go four-wheeling, rock hounding, and spend nights around the campfire and sleep under the stars as great adventures.

Dave and Sherry and family moved back to the Midwest in 1977, landing in Cedar Rapids as Dave transferred to Rockwell Collins. There Dave was a pioneer in GPS, helping to develop the earliest GPS systems that went into military planes. The systems he and his colleagues dreamed up have continued to be modified and improved and are a big part of our everyday lives. Dave traveled extensively for Rockwell Collins, going to Europe, Israel and Japan to name a few.

The love of camping transitioned to a love of water skiing, fishing and the Mississippi River as the family spent many weekends out boating and skiing and fishing from the beaches with friends. The times on the river were cherished and continued even as kids moved away to college and jobs. Coming home and going to the river to spend time out on the boat with Mom and Dad was a special treat. Dave retired in 1994, and he and Sherry started traveling in a fifth-wheel all over the US.

They spent almost four months in Alaska, and saw every state in the US. They also had six wonderful adventures bareboat sailing the Caribbean with California friends. In 2004 they moved to a permanent house in Sierra Vista, Arizona, the love of the desert calling them home. Both Dave and Sherry became heavily involved in Cochise Area Network of Therapeutic Equine Activities (C.A.N.T.E.R.), with Dave acting as board president for many years. They became big birders and enjoyed finding new birds wherever they went. Their adventures continued as they traveled to Costa Rica, Belize, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Nicaragua, and Europe, making memories and having a ball together. Through all of these adventures, they made time to be present for the birth of all three of their grandchildren, even braving the snow and cold for that January baby. The weeks they stayed to help cook and clean and snuggle grand babies while new parents adjusted were priceless.

Dave was cursed with Parkinson’s Disease and as it progressed and stole the active part of his life, he never complained and still enjoyed seeing friends and family, and especially going to the Folklore Preserve to see musical performances, always with the love of his life by his side.

Dave will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 62 years, Sherry Cunningham of Sierra Vista, AZ, his daughter Erin Garman (Bob) of Center Point, IA, son Troy Cunningham (Carol) of Madison, WI, and grandchildren Britt Garman of Colorado Springs, CO, Berkley Garman of Iowa City, IA, Cade Garman of Center Point, IA. He is also survived by his sister Alice Hudson of Glen Carbon, IL. Sherry is grateful to still have the companionship of their dog "Ellie."

Dave was predeceased by his parents Lynn and Eleanore Cunningham and his brother Jim.

No services are planned at this time.

Donations in Dave’s memory can be made to C.A.N.T.E.R. to continue the work he gave many years to.
C.A.N.T.E.R.
PO Box 1316
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Canteraz.blogspot.com/p/donate

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