Eleanor May Caton Cunningham, 82, of Wiscasset, died Feb. 17 at Amenity Manor in Topsham.
She was born on April 11, 1926 at the family home in Wiscasset where she had been a lifelong resident. She was a daughter of Maurice and Sadie A. (Leeman) Caton.
She was educated at Wiscasset schools, but was a lifelong learner. On Aug. 23, 1946 she married a soldier from Sheepscot, Roy Cunningham. They were married for 33 years before his death in 1980. She was employed at the Red Brick School in Wiscasset where the hot lunch program was instituted. Her favorite family times were the yearly area agricultural fairs and Sunday school picnics on Jefferson Mountain. Roy and Eleanor attended the Wiscasset Bible Baptist Church and Eleanor continued to enjoy visits from the pastors and church family when she could not attend.
She was a member of the Mother’s Club of Wiscasset in the 1950s and a member of the Gold Star Wives.
Eleanor enjoyed family vacations to the Smokey Mountains in Florida and Lancaster County, doing embroidery each day, reading the papers, church news and visiting with family and friends. She was a generous giver and enjoyed remembering others at births, anniversaries, birthdays, weddings and graduation.
She was predeceased by her husband, Roy Cunningham on June 10, 1980; and two grandchildren, Rodney Judkins Jr. and Angela Judkins.
She is survived by four daughters, Darlene Colby and husband Clarence of Wiscasset, Karen Greenleaf and husband Frank of Westport Island, Sally Shaw and husband David of Whitefield, and Jolene Cunningham and companion Tobey Frizzle of Bowdoinham; seven grandchildren, Anthony Colby, Tina Colby, Tyler Greenleaf, Gretchen Greenleaf, Karyn Judkins, Keri Judkins, and Troy Davis; and six great-grandchildren, Shawn Colby, Amber Colby, Ashley Keenan, Noah Greenleaf, Alexis Judkins and Angelina Judkins.
Visiting hours 6-8 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 19 at Daigle Funeral Home, 40 Federal St., Wiscasset. Funeral service 1 p.m., Fri., Feb. 20 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lincoln County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556.
Arrangements are entrusted to Daigle Funeral Home, Wiscasset.
