William Leroy Cunningham

William Leroy Cunningham, 92, passed away after a long
fulfilling life in Puyallup, WA on October 15, 2021. He was born
in Wisconsin to Raymond and Adeline Cunningham on June 26,
1929. Bill’s family moved to the Puyallup area when he was 11
years old during the Great Depression. He grew up in the
Puyallup area and attended Puyallup High School followed by
the University of Puget Sound.
As a teenager, Bill worked on several ships overseas after World
War II. Bill was a Korean War Veteran and served in the Army as
a Mountain Climber Instructor. He was very proud of his service
and frequently told stories of his service and time in the Army.
Bill was also a successful businessman working for many years
at Washington Hardware Company as a Sporting Goods
Salesman and owner before he transitioned into a long career
in Real Estate. He was a proud Elks and American Legion
member for 60 years.
In 1953, Bill married Ann Tollefson and the Army took them to
Colorado for his service. Eventually, they returned to the
Puyallup-Eatonville area where they raised their four children.
Bill also had a passion for raising Britney Spaniels, Welsh Ponies
and Arabian Horses. He loved to enter shows and he won many
awards for them.
He is preceded in death by his wife Ann, brother Jerry and son
Steven. He is survived by three children, his daughter Robin, his
sons David and John and his wife, Suzanne. His grandchildren
Lindsay, Kristin (Jared), Megan and JJ as well as his great
grandchildren Grace, Addison, Luke and Blake. A memorial
service will be held on November 26,2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the
Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. In lieu of
flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.