 The Cunningham Dining Room is named in memory of Keith Kermit Cunningham, a
native of Time, Illinois, and Ida Baird Cunningham, a native of Rushville,
Illinois. They were married on January 1, 1928. Mr. and Mrs.
Cunningham had two children, Loren George Cunningham and Keith Kermit
Cunningham, Jr. The couple met at Culver-Stockton College in Canton,
Missouri, while attending school there. After graduation, both were
ordained in to the ministry by the Disciples of Christ Church (Christian
Church). Mrs. Cunningham was one of the first women to be so honored by
the denomination and continued working in the ministry for the rest of her
life. Mr. Cunningham was a chaplain in the U.S. Army and served in Europe
with General George Patton's army, where he was trapped during the Battle of the
Bulge. Following his time in the military, he returned to school and
received a master's degree in School Administration. During his career, he
worked as the General Sales Manager for Dennis Chicken in Augusta, Illinois, and
later transferred to the new headquarters in Winter Grove, Florida. Mr.
Cunningham finished his career as a visiting minister with various churches in
central Missouri. |
