Bill Cunningham Obituary

Bill Cunningham passed away in Hot Springs, AR, on March 21, 2024, at the age of 84. He was born on February 10, 1940, in Abilene, Texas, to Chester and Cynthia Cunningham. He served our country for eight years in the US Air Force. While stationed in Germany, he married Maria Schwab and moved to Arkansas with their daughter Cindy and Maria’s two older children, Karl and Heidi. Later in life, he married Anita Harris. They attended Barcelona Road Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village. After retiring from Alcoa, where he worked for twenty-four years, Anita and Bill traveled to Mexico, San Diego, and Florida.

Bill never met a stranger. He should have been a greeter at Wal-Mart, but he would still be talking fifteen minutes later. He organized groups of people to play cards, go out to eat, and do just about anything to gather friends together. He liked to joke around with everyone, and they all loved Bill. He liked playing pool with his friends at McCallie’s in Hot Springs Village. He spent many days fishing on the lake, and it didn’t matter if he caught anything; he just enjoyed being on the water. On Sunday afternoon, you would find him watching NFL football and cheering for the Dallas Cowboys. He loved his cowboy boots, everything from alligator to ostrich.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, mother, first wife, Maria, and second wife, Anita. He is survived by his sister JoAnn Cunningham Crews, daughters Cindy and Heidi, son Karl, granddaughter Tracy, and great-grandchildren Malachi, Ezra, Micah Jane, and Noah Kate. He will be greatly missed, but with the assurance and hope of Heaven, we will all meet again. Heaven welcomes him as he two steps his way into the arms of Jesus and is reunited with his loving wife, Anita. The memories of Daddy and Grandpa will live on with smiles and laughter.

 The memorial service is on Saturday, April 27, at 2:00 p.m. at Barcelona Road Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village.