Ellsworth Lindwood Cunningham, Sr., 84, of Mattapoisett died Tuesday March 21, 2006 at Alden Court Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Center in Fairhaven after a long illness. He was the beloved husband of Ruth (Carlaw) Cunningham.
Born in South Dartmouth, he was the son of the late Harold and Georgiana (Rollins) Cunningham. He attended New Bedford schools and New Bedford Vocational High School. He was a local contractor and owner of Cunningham Contractors until his retirement.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in Germany with the 260th regiment, 65th division under General George S. Patton. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal for valor, the Combat Infantry badge, the Good Conduct medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign medal, the American Defense medal, and the World War II Victory medal. A member of his company, Joseph Windham, wrote a book titled Fragmentation published in 2005 about the war in which he dedicated the book to Ellsworth, praising his leadership.
He was an avid sports fan. He played football for New Bedford Vocational High School and for the Murphy Club, a semiprofessional team. He was a member of the victorious State Basketball Championship team for New Bedford Voke. A life member of the Reservation Golf Club, his real passion was golf. He was also an avid duckpin bowler.
He was a member of the Florence Eastman American Legion Post in Mattapoisett and the Maconchu Club of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. He was a former member of the Machocum Club. He was constantly telling jokes and making friends laugh. He loved to sing, especially for the local Lions Club shows and at the old Cathay Temple every Friday evening.
Survivors include his wife; his children, Dennis M. Cunningham and his wife Betsey of Centerville, Timothy Cunningham of Key West, Florida, Peter Cunningham of Sedgewick, Maine, Maureen Cunningham of New Haven, Connecticut, Thomas Rodrigues and his wife Michele of New Harbor, Maine, Jean Deliz of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Beth Anne DeCosta and her husband David of Centerville, David Rodrigues of San Diego, California, and Ellsworth "Chip" Cunningham, Jr. of Fall River; his brother, Dr. Dwight A. Cunningham of Las Vegas, Nevada; and many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Harold Cunningham, Harvey Cunningham, and Elton Cunningham, who was his twin. He loved his family and how his family loved him!
His Memorial Service will be held on Friday March 24, 2006 at 12 Noon at the Reservation Golf Club in Mattapoisett.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, One Bulfinch Place, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114.