FRANKLIN CUNNINGHAM

© Published in Cherokee, OK. Messenger & Republican

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005

Submitted by: Sylva Rhodes

FRANKLIN CUNNINGHAM

Funeral services for Franklin D. "Frankie" Cunningham, 71, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Alfalfa County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building on West Fifth Street, in Cherokee, OK., with Robert Fullerton officiating. Goodwin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He died Dec. 3, 2005 at Share Hospital, Alva, OK.

He was born July 11, 1934, in Preston, KS. to Frank Wayne and Emmie May Taylor Cunningham. He grew up in Waynoka, OK. where he attended school. He was a jockey and started riding race horses at an early age. He rode at several tracks, including Ponca City, OK., Liberal, KS., Hot Springs, Ark., and Enid, OK. His last race was April 20, 1956, in Enid, OK., which he won.

He married Shirley Gibson, May 9, 1956, in Woodward, OK. They lived in May, OK., then moved to Cherokee, OK. in 1959. He worked for the Oklahoma State Highway Department for 16 years. Later, he worked for Rick Caruthers Construction Company and Alfalfa County. He took early retirement because of failing health.

He attended Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

He is survived by his wife of the home; four sons, Rex of Avard, OK., Roger of Alva, OK., Richard of Cherokee, OK., and Robert of Hopeton, OK.; three daughters, Regena Hommertzheim of Attica, KS., Rhonda Fullerton of Enid, OK., and Rita Supernaw of Clinton, MO.; two brothers, Ivan of Woodward, OK., and Allen of Carmen, OK.; three sisters, Dorene Bowker of Beaver, OK., and Betty Durkee and Maxine Cell, both of Waynoka, OK.; 30 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, three sisters, and a daughter-in-law.

Memorials may be made to Watch Tower Society through the funeral home.

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