Address
Locke on 4th
1519 W 4th St.
Waterloo, IA 50702
Paul Franklin Cunningham was born on September 14, 1935, at home near Old Hickory Road outside Hattieville, Arkansas. He passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on June 6, 2026, at 1:44 a.m. in Waterloo, Iowa, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home.
The eldest son of Howard Davis Cunningham and Canzada “Zadie” (Harris) Cunningham, Paul moved with his family to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, at the age of two. He attended Lincoln, Rice Creek, and Phillipsburg elementary schools before graduating from College High School in 1953.
After high school, Paul attended Southwestern Bible College in Oklahoma City for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1955. He served as company clerk with the 95th Combat Engineers in Darmstadt, Germany, where he received an invitation to apply to West Point. He was honorably discharged in 1957.
Following his military service, Paul returned to Southwestern Bible College and earned a B.A. in Theology. It was there that he met the love of his life, Marcia Irene Spicer. The couple got married on August 2, 1959. Paul later completed a B.S. in English Education from Emporia State Teachers College in Kansas and pursued Master of Science coursework at Wichita State University while living in El Dorado, Kansas.
Paul and Marcia raised four children, two sons and twin daughters, and were blessed with 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
A man of many talents, Paul’s professional life included serving as a paperboy at age seven, draftsman at Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, assistant manager for Safeway Grocery Stores in Oklahoma City, high school English teacher and assistant wrestling coach in El Dorado, Kansas, and finally as Social Security District Manager serving communities across Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. He chaired United Way campaigns and served as president of the Federal Agencies Employees Association. He retired from federal service in 1998 and afterward owned and managed several real estate rental properties.
Above all, Paul was a kind, loving, and devoted family man who took great pride in providing for his wife of 67 years and watching all his children become college graduates with successful careers. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting quail and pheasant with his father and father-in-law and fishing with friends. He was deeply interested in genealogy, cherished his Oklahoma roots, shared old Western tales, quoted poetry, played cards and dominoes, and treasured morning coffee with friends. A good listener who offered wise counsel, he was admired for his personal integrity and calm strength in times of crisis. To his grandchildren he was beloved “Papa” or “Grandad,” and to his wife, simply “Honey.”
Paul came to faith at age 17 and was baptized in the Caney River near Bartlesville, Oklahoma. A lifelong believer, he was a faithful member of the Assembly of God denomination, serving on church boards and as interim pastor; and later Cedar Valley Wesleyan Church in Waterloo, Iowa, where he served on the church board and taught Sunday School. His favorite scripture passage was John 10:1-18. He now rejoices in the presence of his Lord in Paradise.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Zadie; sisters Wanda Ruth Harness and Annette Jean Keitel; his son Christopher Craig Cunningham; and grandson Brody Paul Everett Cunningham.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Marcia; children son John Paul Cunningham and wife Ana of Moorpark, California, twin daughter Marie Elizabeth Lewis and husband Matthew Sparks of Carlsbad, California, twin daughter Mavis Wren Manson and her husband John of Spotsylvania, Virginia, and daughter-in-law Tricia Cunningham (wife to his late son Craig) of Indio, California; Grandchildren Alexis “Lexi” Sadeghi and husband Sam, Jacob Cunningham and wife Kelsey, Joshua Cunningham and fiancé Claire, Cameron Cunningham and wife Alexa, Carter Cunningham and wife Calicia, John “Jack” Manson, Katherine “Katie” Lewis, Joseph “Joey” Cunningham, Ashlyn Cunningham, Contessa “Tessa” Cunningham, and John “Johnny” Cunningham; Great-grandchildren Selah Grace, Callum John, Cyrus Craig, Parker Wilder, and Quinn Rose; and Siblings Emma Brennan, and husband Charles, Van Cunningham, and wife Rose, Bobby Cunningham, and wife Angie, Marvale Parry, and husband Jerry, Donna Boling and Aneda Rayl.
Funeral services with full military honors will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Locke at Tower Park Funeral Home, 4140 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, IA 50701. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. The obituary will be read by his daughter Mavis Manson. Pallbearers will be his seven grandsons and two sons-in-law. Burial will follow in the family plot at Laverne Cemetery in Laverne, Oklahoma, under the direction of Schilling Funeral Home, 421 S. Broadway, Laverne, OK 73848.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Cedar Valley Hospice Home, PO Box 2880, Waterloo, IA 50704.
Funeral Service
June 12, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Locke at Tower Park
4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, IA
Visitation
June 12, 2026
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Locke at Tower Park
4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, IA
Dearest Marcia and family—-Our hearts ache to hear news of Paul’s passing. It is with loving fondest memories that we know he is now with Jesus his Savior and reunited with his son Craig. In that we have joy. Holy Spirit our Comforter, our Helper will always be with you. God’s Blessings to Paul’s precious family.
Dearest Marcia and family, our hearts are heavy with sadness at the loss of Paul. May God give you Comfort and Peace at this difficult time. Thank you Jesus for You’re promise of eternal Life.
Marcia and family,
I’m sorry you must endure the loss of Paul.
I had the recent good fortune to visit with him after
not seeing him for several years. I will forever cherish that opportunity and not forget what a great person he was to know and learn from.
Paul had such a strong faith and love for his family. I send you all my sympathy and prayers for support. May God give you strength.
Sincerely, Kevan Cortright
Dear Mavis and Family, I am so sorry to hear about your father’s passing. Although I didn’t have the chance to know him, I was moved by the beautiful obituary and the testament to his faith. Please know that I am keeping you and your family in my prayers during this difficult time.
Dear Marcia and family, my God give you peace during this hard time of separation with the promise of eternity together with Jesus return soon. Such a gracious couple and a blessing to know you both and serve with Paul on the church board. Godly man I admired, looked up to and look forward to serving the Lord with in eternity as well.
Praying for you & your family. I praise God we do not sorrow as the world sorrows having no hope. I pray that rich & beautiful memories carry each one his life touched through the difficult seasons, knowing & rejoicing that all those who put their trust in Christ will see him again. Condolences for your loss.
Dearest Marcia and Family,
We extend our deepest sympathies to Marcia and the entire family during this difficult time.
When Paul and Marcia lived just down the street from us for a season, it was clearly a God-appointed time. Paul’s friendship became a true blessing to our family, and we will always cherish the faith, encouragement, and precious memories he shared with us.
Praying over your hurting hearts.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Papa was so sweet and jolly. I first met him when he came to visit Omaha when Tessa, Johnny, Ashlyn and Joey were in town and he made the drive to Omaha (something he did often to see his family there and also attend special occasions in Omaha). I remember he brought candy for the kids and they were all excited but Tessa was the most excited as he brought one of her favorites. Since then I have seen his strong dedication to his family and how he was so welcoming to those who are not blood family but married (or soon to be married) in to the family. Although my time knowing Papa was short, he was an amazing man and so kind. He made everyone he was around feel special and loved and brought a smile to people around him.
The love he had towards his family was so special and he will be missed.
I am so sorry for your loss and am also so thankful that I got to know Uncle Paul over the years. What a great guy and a great example! Reading this memorial makes me that much more thankful to know such a remarkable man. I’m confident that Uncle Paul is with his savior now.
Dear Marcia and Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May knowing that others share your sorrow bring you comfort and strength during this difficult time.
Dear Marcia, Marie, Mavis and John. Our deepest sympathy go out to you all in the homegoing of your husband and father. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. Paul and Shelley
What a beautiful memorial service. Everything that Papa was can be summarized in 1 word LOVE He was a great example of a Godly man. I know that in heaven my mom has met him by now and is hugging him for loving me and welcoming me into the Cunningham family. He will forever be my Papa in my heart. I had never played dominoes, but he taught me Mexican train. Papa I can’t wait until we see each other again and play Mexican train.
Nana you are the love of his life and of all eternity.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be loved by you both.
I can’t wait until I hear again in his southern accent “Helooooooo Ana”.