Virginia Gault Cunningham

Virginia Gault Cunningham, age 91, of Richmond, Kansas, died on December 10, 2009, at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. She was born on September 28, 1918, at Hamilton, Ohio, the daughter of Robert S. and Elsie (Dietrich) Gault. Her family moved to Richmond when she was nine months old; making her the longest living resident of the Richmond area. She graduated from Richmond High School in 1936, and then graduated from Emporia State Teacher's College in 1941. In a double wedding ceremony with her sister Margaret, Virginia was united in marriage to Kenneth A. Cunningham on June 21, 1941, at Richmond, Kansas. Although they had no children of their own, the couple shared their home with two boys for several years as they attended school: Bob Wiswell, who now lives in Canada, and Jerry Miller, deceased. Kenneth preceded Virginia in death on December 29, 2001. Growing up, Virginia had a love of all animals. She belonged to Rainbow 4-H Club and showed many champion animals, including a steer at the American Royal. In 1939 she was State 4-H Livestock Winner and attended National 4-H Congress in Chicago. In 1946 Virginia organized Berea Boosters 4-H Club, her way of giving back to the organization that had provided so much for her, and served as club leader for 22 years. As a teenager, Virginia began working at the Richmond Free Fair and was a fixture in that event for the next 70 years. Virginia began teaching at Silverdale School and concluded her 35 year career at Garnett after teaching for more than 20 years in the Garnett district. While at Garnett she was instrumental in organizing volleyball, basketball and track for girls. She is survived by two sisters Iwalani Mortenson of Paola, Kansas and Margaret Young of Sun City West, Arizona; two nephews Robert S. Mortenson and wife Rita of Independence, Missouri and Robert G. Young and wife Laura of Glendale, Arizona; two nieces Joyce Smith and husband Dudley of Leawood, Kansas and Nancy Cowan and husband Jim of Deering, New Hampshire; and Kenneth's niece, Phyllis Nelson of Rogersville, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, December, 14, 2009 at the Richmond United Methodist Church. Family will be present to greet friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Monday morning at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Cunningham Scholarship at Anderson County High School or to Richmond Community Museum. Friends may view the body at the funeral home on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The casket will be closed at the church on Monday.