Louis Morris Cunningham Jr.

Louis Morris Cunningham, Jr. died Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. at Primrose Retirement Community.

Lou was born on January 3, 1931, in Charleston, West Virginia, the only child of the late Virginia Seay Cunningham and Louis Morris Cunningham, Sr.  He was raised by his mother and grandparents, Homer and Alice Seay, in Columbus, Ohio.  Lou was a proud graduate of Columbus East High School where he participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track.  He continued his football career at Capital University graduating with a degree in Psychology.  There he met the one and only love of his life, Mary Bernlohr.  They were married August 13, 1955 and were married 56 years, until her death May 8, 2012.  Lou served as an electronics specialist in the U. S. Navy and after his military discharge was a teacher and guidance counselor in the Columbus Public Schools.  He earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Counseling and Guidance from The Ohio State University where he was also an instructor.  In 1965 Lou and Mary moved to New Concord where Lou served in various positions at Muskingum College, including Professor of Psychology, and Dean of Students.  Lou also served the Noble County schools as a school psychologist until his retirement.  Lou was a long time member of College Drive Presbyterian Church serving the church as an elder, Sunday School teacher, and as a member of the church choir for over 50 years.  If you knew Lou you already know what his family knows, he was one in a million!  He was a self-less caregiver to our mother, had too many interests and hobbies to list, was honest, sometimes to a fault, and extremely proud of his family.

Lou is survived by his four children:  Mary (Jon) Bates, New Concord, Catherine (Bryan Moore) Cunningham, Hilliard, OH, William (Patricia) Cunningham, Leesburg, VA, and David (Lorraine) Cunningham, Germantown, MD. 

Ten grandchildren:  Aaron Bates & wife, Logan, and Emily (Bates) Heagen & husband, Matt; Brianne Moore and Ian Moore; Sarah (Cunningham) Sogliuzzo, & husband, Jay, Matt Cunningham & fiancée Lauren Stevenson, and Jacob Cunningham; Britni (Cunningham) Kirker & husband James, Daniel Cunningham, and Paul Cunningham.

Five great-grandchildren: Hayden and Peyton Bates, Blair Kirker, Jameson Heagen, and Jack Sogliuzzo.

Lou’s family extends special thanks and appreciation to the staff at Primrose Retirement Community and to Central Ohio Hospice for the loving care he received.

In keeping with Lou’s wishes the family will have a memorial gathering at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to College Drive Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 163, New Concord, Ohio 43762.

The Farus Funeral Home of New Concord is caring for the Cunningham Family.

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