Neal-Tarpley Parchman Funeral Home Reporting
clarksvillenow.com
Brigadier General (Ret.) Frank (Pat) Cunningham passed away December 19, 2013, at Gateway Medical Center as the result of complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Pat was born 1940, Clarksville, TN, attended St. Mary’s Parochial School, Greenwood Junior High School, and graduated from Clarksville High School in 1958.
He is a graduate of Murray State University with a degree in Speech/Drama.
He received a Master’s Degree in Logistics Management from Florida Institute of Technology and a certificate from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College.
General Cunningham served on active duty with the US Army, having been commissioned from ROTC in 1963. His overseas assignments include Germany (3 tours), Vietnam and Okinawa. He served at posts across the US in positions of command, from the platoon level and culminating as the Commanding General of the largest Brigade in the Army. His last position, prior to retirement, was as the Deputy J4, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the Gulf War, Panama Operations, and Peacekeeping missions. Following retirement he was VP of government operations for the Carnegie Group, Pittsburg, PA. He also worked as Grants Manager of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, TN.
Pat’s community activities include working to establish the Wings of Liberty Military Museum, Ft. Campbell, KY; Past President of the Clarksville Rotary Club; Past President of the Clarksville Chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters; and, an active member of the Immaculate Conception Church.
General Cunningham is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Georgiana Cunningham and wife Annette McKnight Cunningham. He is survived by wife Linda Ellis Cunningham of Clarksville, TN; brother, Martin “Mike” (Ricky) Cunningham of Marietta, GA; sister, Martha Wallus of Oak Ridge, TN; aunt, Joanne Beermann of Douglaston, NY; daughters, Tere Priest of Knoxville, TN, Mickey (Greg) Taylor of Nashville, TN, Andie (Josh) Olander of Encino, CA; son, Frank “Chip” Cunningham of West Richland, WA; and three step-children, James Michael (Sharon) Ellis of Springfield, TN, Michelle Ellis (Lou) Rodriguez of Miami, FL, and Mercedes Ellis (Danny) Chartrand of Clarksville, TN. Pat found great joy in his 13 grandchildren, 6 step grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews.
The family requests donations to the following in lieu of flowers: Clarksville Rotary Club Foundation, P.O. Box 1066, Clarksville, TN 37041; or, The Immaculate Conception Chapel Restoration Fund, 709 Franklin St., Clarksville, TN 37040.
Funeral mass was at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2013 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Deacon Dominick Azzara officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation was held from 3:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 22, 2013 with a vigil following at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home and Monday, December 23, 2013 from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at the church.
Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040.
Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com.