Diana Hunter Cunningham

Diana Hunter Lum Cunningham, 94, passed away on Friday, June 9th, 2023 in Hospice after a brief illness.

Diana Cunningham was born on April 27,1929 in Summit, New Jersey to her parents Philip L.S.Lum and his wife Dorothy Hunter Lum. Diana spent her childhood in Chatham, New Jersey living near her close knit Lum and Hunter families. Many days she would walk over to her grandmother Sylvia (Sibbie) Lum’s home to share the events of her school days. In the summers she would enjoy swimming at Mt. Kemble Lake in New Jersey and extended weeks in Cherry Valley, New York, where the Lum family had a summer home.

Diana graduated from Chatham High School. She graduated from Endicott College, Beverly Mass. with an Associate degree in journalism. She attended Drew University majoring in English, where she met her husband Robert Emmett Cunningham. On their first date they ducked into a random record store in NYC where jazz legends Jack Teagarden and Sidney Bechet were playing in the back of the store. They married in 1949.

Diana moved to Texas in 1958 with their family of three small daughters when her husband became the first director of the Arlington YMCA. They joined the First Methodist Church in 1958 and were among the last members of the Aldersgate Sunday School class.

She enjoyed traveling around England and Europe during the 1980’s and early 1990s when she and Bob lived in East Anglia for Bob’s job at Bentwaters RAF/AFB. While living in England, Diana became an avid collector of English motto ware and Torquay pottery. She loved to read English Mystery novels, especially the cozy variety with a good cup of English tea by her side. Her backyard in Texas was a favorite place of beauty as she tended to her numerous containers of flowers throughout the hot Texas summers.

Diana was a proud member of the Lucretia Council Cochran chapter of the DAR. She celebrated her 50th year in DAR last September. She was also a member of the Arlington Women’s club.

She was a dedicated grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her six grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Emmett Cunningham (1926 -2017).

She is survived by her sisters, Sylvia Felix of Keene, New Hampshire and Dr. Susan Hammen-Winn of Saunderstown, Rhode Island. She is survived by her daughters, Ellen (Dr. Terry) Morris, Cindy(Gary) Sharp, and Sarah Cunningham (John Burgess).

Her grandchildren surviving her are Jeremy (Jessica) Spracklen, Amber (Daisy) Martinez, Molly (Travis) Fox, Margaret (Dr. Matthew) Richard, Deanna Green, Ray Sharp, Riley Burgess, and Diana Burgess (Curtis McMurtry, fiancé). Her great-grandchildren surviving her are Alexander Fox and Edison Richard.

A scholar and dreamer, she was strong, cheerful and creative who enjoyed reading, musical concerts, plays, and museums.

The family expresses their gratitude to the numerous caregivers at Brookdale Pecan Park for their patience and attentiveness to their mother’s care in her last months of her life and to Debbie and Amy from All Star Home Health.

Honorary Pallbearers:

John Burgess
Riley Burgess
Curtis McMurtry
Jeremy Spracklen
Gary Sharp
Terry Morris

A Celebration of Life honoring Diana Cunningham will be held on Friday afternoon, June 23rd at 2:00 pm with a reception following in the Church Parlor.

First United Methodist Church Arlington
313 N. Center St.
Arlington, Tx 76011

Memorials in lieu of flowers:
First United Methodist Church Arlington
313 N. Center St.
Arlington,TX 76011

Lucretia Council Cochran Chapter DAR
Attention Sue Mathios
2802 Blackwood Dr.
Arlington, TX 76013