Richard Francis Cunningham
November 5, 1928 – August 2, 2023
Richard Francis Cunningham, 94, of Owings passed away August 2, 2023. He was born November 5, 1928 in Robinson, IL to Lyle Emil and Catharine (Butler) Cunningham. Richard joined the United States Army on November 7, 1951 and was honorably discharged on October 14, 1953. He married Barbara Beaumont in February of 1977 and they lived in Colorado and Rhinebeck, NY before retiring and moving to Owings in 2012. Richard had a successful career as a pharmaceutical corporate officer for Pfizer, Baxter, and Abbott. Following his retirement from the health care industry Richard went to work in real estate and local politics. He served as the mayor of Rhinebeck for several years. Richard volunteered with the Rhinebeck Veterans Administration and was a former board member of the Red Hook Golf Club. In his spare time, he enjoyed golfing, sailing, and cooking and he loved to make people laugh.
Richard is survived by his loving wife of 46 years Barbara Cunningham, children Pat Runge, Robin Cunningham, Lisa Cunningham, Shannon Barley and her husband Ben, and Brian Cunningham, 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s name may be made to World Central Kitchen.
Visitation
Services
- Private
No Services Available
Interment
Contributions
World Central Kitchen
Attn: Donor Services Team
200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20001
Condolences
Sort Comments
3 Aug 2023
12:49pm
So sorry Barb, and condolences to your entire family. Richard will be missed…great guy with a great sense of humor. I am glad to have known him. He will be enjoying eternity and waiting for you. If you could collect and count every grain of sand, on every beach it would not equal a day in eternity…and Rich just got there! So happy that he knew the Lord. Stay Blessed.
City
Owings
State
Maryland
3 Aug 2023
1:58pm
Wanted to share my stories about my Dad here since it was his wish not to have a service. My dad was my hero! He was the guy that would get up before the songbirds to make, from scratch, giant cinnamon rolls so we would wake to the smell of butter and yeast and spices. He also had a wealth of knowledge about business and advised me on the regular. Always supportive of any and all endeavors, his phone calls were closed with “I’m so proud of you! Love you!”. And I always loved the calls from him where he wanted to share a recipe that he just dreamed up. I will miss talking to him almost every day and I will really miss his wicked sense of humor. I thank God that he was in my life. There will never be another you, Dad!
City
Indianapolis
State
IN
7 Aug 2023
10:51am
For those who knew and loved Richard Cunningham (including myself), I offer deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences.
His was a life filled with experiences from the mundane to the sublime, seasoned with a lot of humor, vitality and charm. As a youngster, he was reported as a bit of a rascal. He grew to be an inquisitive and ambitious young man who built a family and explored and expanded his career.
In the 70s he had the rare opportunity to begin again, building a new life and starting a beloved new family tree, whose many branches have made the world more beautiful and blessed.
To Barbara, Shannon, Ben, Lisa, and Brian I express my sincere gratitude for all you have done to encourage and support our connections. Our ability to see and speak regularly with Dad and share time with you all is a priceless gift.
May the love and good memories help sustain us all until the shock and pain subside to a manageable level. The hurt and loss never really goes away, but practice allows us to bear it with grace.
His earthly journey complete, may our Richard enjoy eternity golfing, sailing, baking and cooking, joking and laughing with his friends on the other side. I hope he greets us with cinnamon rolls and a wicked story when we meet again.
City
Indianapolis
State
IN
Sort Comments
So sorry Barb, and condolences to your entire family. Richard will be missed…great guy with a great sense of humor. I am glad to have known him. He will be enjoying eternity and waiting for you. If you could collect and count every grain of sand, on every beach it would not equal a day in eternity…and Rich just got there! So happy that he knew the Lord. Stay Blessed.
Wanted to share my stories about my Dad here since it was his wish not to have a service. My dad was my hero! He was the guy that would get up before the songbirds to make, from scratch, giant cinnamon rolls so we would wake to the smell of butter and yeast and spices. He also had a wealth of knowledge about business and advised me on the regular. Always supportive of any and all endeavors, his phone calls were closed with “I’m so proud of you! Love you!”. And I always loved the calls from him where he wanted to share a recipe that he just dreamed up. I will miss talking to him almost every day and I will really miss his wicked sense of humor. I thank God that he was in my life. There will never be another you, Dad!
For those who knew and loved Richard Cunningham (including myself), I offer deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences.
His was a life filled with experiences from the mundane to the sublime, seasoned with a lot of humor, vitality and charm. As a youngster, he was reported as a bit of a rascal. He grew to be an inquisitive and ambitious young man who built a family and explored and expanded his career.
In the 70s he had the rare opportunity to begin again, building a new life and starting a beloved new family tree, whose many branches have made the world more beautiful and blessed.
To Barbara, Shannon, Ben, Lisa, and Brian I express my sincere gratitude for all you have done to encourage and support our connections. Our ability to see and speak regularly with Dad and share time with you all is a priceless gift.
May the love and good memories help sustain us all until the shock and pain subside to a manageable level. The hurt and loss never really goes away, but practice allows us to bear it with grace.
His earthly journey complete, may our Richard enjoy eternity golfing, sailing, baking and cooking, joking and laughing with his friends on the other side. I hope he greets us with cinnamon rolls and a wicked story when we meet again.