CLEVELAND, November 8 — Brother Charlie Cunningham, former Chairman of the BLET Virginia State Legislative Board, passed away on November 4 after a valiant struggle with a terminal illness. He was 79 years old.
Brother Cunningham first joined the Brotherhood as a member of Division 456 in Norfolk, Va., on April 25, 1960. He served the members of that Division for many years, and was elected numerous times to serve as Chairman of the Virginia State Legislative Board. He held continuous membership in the Brotherhood for 32 years upon his retirement on March 3, 1992.
After retirement, he worked as an investigator for the law firm of Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton, P.C. He was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus 418. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran.
Brother Cunningham was born on April 4, 1930.
Survivors include his daughter, Rebecca Heroux and husband Dustin and their children, Kaytlynn and Kelly Heroux; three step-children, Ricky L. Turner, Sheryl T. Bryan, Brian Turner all of Portsmouth; seven step-grandchildren; sister, Mae Cunningham Wakefield; niece, Mary Ann Viola; and his former wife, Jacqueline Skipwith Cunningham.
“Charlie Cunningham was a hard-working and dedicated union Brother for a long, long time,” said BLET Active President Paul Sorrow. “He served the members of Virginia well throughout his career, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. I extend deepest sympathies to his family.”
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.
Information on his wake and funeral is as follows:
Wake — 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9
B. W. Foster Funeral Home
1926 High St.
Portsmouth, VA 23704-3010
757-397-2391
Funeral — 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10
St. Paul’s Catholic Church
518 High St.
Portsmouth, VA
757-399-5346