Obituary of Orville Cunningham

Orville “Orvie” H. Cunningham, 91, died March 10, 2011 at Harbor Hill. Orville was the son of Horace and Jessie (Devereux) Cunningham. Orvie grew up and attended schools in Stockton Springs where he also began his successful and varied work life. As a young man he worked at the docks, cut and delivered ice, worked at Mosher’s Store and Penobscot Poultry. For more than 20 years he was employed by MSAD 34 as a bus driver and custodian. While custodian of the East Belfast School, he took great pride in maintaining both the school and the grounds, especially the lawns. As a bus driver, he was proud of knowing all the students he transported. It was during his years with MSAD 34 that he formed respectful, caring and long lasting relationships with his co-workers and students whom he fondly called “Fred.” Orvie worked for the Belfast Police Department and Waldo County Sheriff’s Department. He was also a Belfast Ambulance attendant and a Belfast Fire Department volunteer. He was a Shriner and Mason and was proud to receive his 50 year Masonic pin. Orvie adored his family and will be remembered for his sense of humor, gentle spirit and wonderful twinkle in his eyes. He was a great teller of stories and loved family gatherings where old stories could be embellished and new stories begun. Camping at Castine with family and friends, trips to the ocean to dig clams and backyard lobster bakes were among his most cherished times. Of course every occasion called for the highly anticipated and competitive game of horse shoes which he excelled at....... Orville is survived by a brother Albert Cunningham of Texas and a sister-in-law Margaret Cunningham of Belfast; four children, Charles Cunningham and his wife Dianne of Jacksonville, NC; Lorraine Kane of Belfast, Denise Hood and her husband Wayne of Weare, NH; and Stanley Cunningham and his wife Laurie of Belfast. Survivors also include nine grandsons which gave him great joy, Gregory Cunningham, Keary Cunningham, James Willis, Kyle Willis, Patrick Hood, Jason Hood, Eben Hood, Chad Cunningham, and Lucus Cunningham, there are also nineteen great-grandchildren. Orville was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Shirley (Frost) Cunningham; brothers Devereux Cunningham, Donald Cunningham, and Merlyn Cunningham, sisters; Myrtle Fletcher, Cora Kingsbury, Phyllis Frost, Veda Scott, and Jeannette Giovannucci. A celebration of Orvie’s life will be scheduled in the summer. Donations can be made to Waldo County Hospice, 119 Northport Avenue, P.O. Box 407 , Belfast, Maine 04915. The family is sincerely thankful to the staff of Harbor Hill for the outstanding care that they provided for our dad during his stay with them.