Roger Allen Cunningham was born to James Charles and Ramona Schlinz Cunningham on December 19, 1939 in Cherokee, Iowa and passed away on December 14, 2018 in Yorba Linda, California.

Roger benefited from growing up in a small Midwestern town in the postwar era.  It was a time when finding a baby rabbit and nursing it back to health would be featured in the local newspaper.  As a young boy, Roger was hard working and self-motivated, learning construction trades from a local contractor working in the area.

While at Washington High School in Cherokee, Roger excelled in both academics and sports, playing football and running track.  Roger earned an abundance of medals, ribbons, and awards, which his father compiled in an album for posterity.  In that cherished album, Roger's athletic coach praised James and Ramona for "having done such a fine job of raising Roger and said he is "a gentleman, an industrious student and in his own quiet way, he commands the respect of all his classmates and teachers.

After graduating from high school in 1958, Roger attended Iowa State University of Science and Technology in Ames and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education in 1963.  He continued his education at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and graduated with a Master of Education in 1966.

Yearning for a warmer climate, Roger moved to Southern California in 1964 and worked as an educator in Baldwin Park.  In 1966, while in possession of a shiny Ford Thunderbird, Roger met Deane Momoyo Terada of Hilo, Hawaii and they married on March 18, 1967.  Roger and Deane settled permanently in Yorba Linda, California in 1970.

Prior to having children, Roger could be found strolling on the golf course or toiling on woodworking projects.  These extracurricular activities came to an abrupt end after the birth of their two girls, Jill and Rumiko, born in 1970 and 1972 respectively.  From then on, Roger and Deane were devoted parents, providing encouragement at the girls’ soccer games, track meets, piano lessons, dance productions, and school events and spending time together on family vacations.

During one notable family summer trip, Roger drove the family from Southern California to Cherokee, Iowa with his handmade grandfather clock wrapped in black plastic and secured to the roof of the car.  The stares of horrified passerby’s, certain of the amateur transport of a large coffin, have been seared into the memories of the Cunningham family.

After 35 years as an educator in Southern California, Roger retired and devoted his time to helping his daughters with home improvement projects, learning about new computer technology, woodworking, converting his extensive record collection onto compact discs for all to enjoy, watching all manner of college and professional sports on his beloved big screen television and reruns of his favorite movie “You’ve Got Mail,” and taking cruises to exotic locales with his family.

Roger lived a full life of integrity and generosity as a son, brother, husband, father, uncle, cousin, and friend.  Rest in Peace.