William Cunningham

Obituary of William Henry Cunningham

 

William Henry Cunningham, Jr. died on Friday, June 24, 2022 at his home on Hilton Head Island.  He was 91.  Bill was born in Oxnard, California on December 2, 1930 and was raised in Belmont Shore in Long Beach, California where he attended Woodrow Wilson High School.  He was head yell leader there. He then graduated with honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1952.  At Santa Barbara, he was President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, yell leader, member of Cal Club and Vice President of the senior class.  He served two years in the Army and then graduated from Thunderbird School of International Management in 1958.  He was later named outstanding alumnus from both schools.

He and his wife Carmen, whom he married in 1957, attended Thunderbird together and then moved to New York and subsequently raised their family of three children in seven countries in Latin America where he worked in international management with American corporations.  In Panama, he was President of the American Society and later started the American Chamber of Commerce there.  He ended his Latin American career as Managing Director of Kraft Foods in Venezuela where he also served on the Chamber board.  Then, after seven years as Vice President of Kraft at EPCOT Center, he and Carmen retired to Hilton Head.  Bill volunteered at Second Helpings, Deep Well and was an interpreter at Volunteers in Medicine and President of the Volunteers at Hilton Head Hospital. He was an active member and usher at All Saints Episcopal Church.

He was predeceased by his father, William Henry Cunningham Sr., his mother Carrie Wilson Cunningham and his sister Barbara Cunningham Cope.  He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carmen Alden Cunningham; sons, Nelson and Clifford (Paula Edelson); daughter Cynthia Gonzalez (Tomas) and six grand-children, William, Amanda and Nicholas Cunningham and Tomas Enrique, Daniel and Priscilla Gonzalez.  .

Bill was an accomplished business leader who took his family on a seven-nation adventure in Latin America.  He was a charming man whom everyone loved.  Goodnight Sweet Prince.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 11:00 am at All Saints Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Island with a reception to follow.

Those who wish to donate in his name may do so at Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, P.O. Box 23858, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 or visit http://www.vimclinic.org..  Islandfuneralhome.com.

Saturday
24
September

Memorial Service

11:00 am
Saturday, September 24, 2022
All Saints Episcopal Church
3001 Meeting Street
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States
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