Charles Eugene Cunningham

Charles Eugene Cunningham

September 12, 1941 to July 22, 2023

Charles Eugene Cunningham, 81, of New Franklin, Mo., died at the Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

Charlie was born on September 12, 1941 in St. Louis, Mo., to Mary Mannisi Cunningham and John Cunningham. When he was eight, his mother married Jerome Boggiano, and Charlie went to live at St. Joseph’s Home for Boys until he was of age.

As a young man, he spent some time working as a medic for the United States Army and got into a bit of trouble before training for his broadcasting license. 

He went to work in radio broadcasting in Lincoln, Neb., where he met Joyce Arlene Ewer and married her in 1966. They had three children: Angela Michelle Cunningham, born on April 5, 1967; Christina Marie Cunningham (now Weber), born on April 28, 1968; and Robert Byron Cunningham, born on February 22, 1970. Joyce died of leukemia on August 23, 1971. 

Charlie married Charlene Baasch (now Wendt) in March 1972. They moved to Oklahoma City, where Charlie was the play-by-play announcer for the University of Oklahoma men’s basketball team. On December 13, 1972, they had identical twin boys: Kenneth Charles Cunningham and Vincent Jerome Cunningham. The family moved back to Nebraska soon after, where he worked as a radio DJ, as a wedding DJ and in a couple office jobs.

In 1983, Charlie and Charlene divorced, and he moved to the Kansas City area with Angela, Kris and Rob. While working as a DJ there, he hosted a telethon that raised more than $40,000 to help build the Kansas City Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. 

His radio and truck-driving careers took him to places like Maine and Louisiana before he moved back to Missouri at the invitation of Patricia Ann Brush. The two married in New Franklin, Mo., on June 30, 2001. Charlie and Pat lived in New Franklin for the rest of their lives. Pat died in March 2017. 

Charlie was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Cunningham; his third wife, Patricia Cunningham; and his daughter, Angela Cunningham (in January 2020). He is survived by his daughter Christina Weber (Cory) of Tonganoxie, Kan.; his son Robert Cunningham (Nicole) of Fairway, Kan.; his son Kenneth Cunningham of Lincoln, Neb.; his son Vincent Cunningham (Nina) of Scribner, Neb.; his stepson Jeff Brush (Nicole) of Rockledge, Fla.; and his stepdaughter Janice Brush, of Williamsburg, Va. He is survived by 11 grandchildren, including Kris’ children Ashlie Christianson, Veronica Weber and Cory Weber, Jr.; Ken’s children Taylor Cunningham, Ryan Cunningham and Hayley Willman (Jeremy); Vince’s children Emily Cunningham and Vincent Cunningham Jr.; Rob’s son William Cunningham; and Jeff’s stepdaughters Tara Banks and Taylor Banks. He is survived by nine great-grandchildren, including Ashlie’s children Elaysia, Joseph, Gianni, Jeremy, Sabrina and Ivan; Tara’s children Kash and Dre; and Taylor’s son Ziyare.

The family will host a celebration of life at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 29 at Howard Funeral Home, after a private family burial that morning. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Shriners Children’s St. Louis.       

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