James Richard Cunningham, 68, of Wheelersburg, died Friday, April 24, 2015 at The Laurels of Norworth in Worthington, OH. He was born December 8, 1946 in Portsmouth, the son of the late Albert and Ola Irene Coleman Cunningham. Jim always had an adventurous spirit. He took his solo flight at the Portsmouth Regional Airport in Minford at the age of 16, and subsequently earned his commercial pilot license, and was also a radio announcer. He was an electrician for I.B.E.W Local 575 in Portsmouth for 22 years,and later received a nursing degree from Shawnee State University. Jim did several mission trips to India on behalf of the Sunshine Church of Christ in Minford.

Jim is survived by one son, Christopher James (Tammy Carlo) Cunningham of Lake in the Woods,Il; one daughter, Anna Marie (John Roberson) Cunningham of Columbus; 2 grandchildren, Sophia and Quinlan Roberson of Columbus; one sister, Jane (Jack) Jennings of Wheelersburg; one aunt Jean Schoonover of Portsmouth; 3 nephews, Richard Pridemore of Portsmouth and Chris and Scott Jennings of Clearwater, FL, and his favorite granddog, Pip.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Swick-Bussa-Chamberlin Funeral Home in Wheelersburg with Steve Miller officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at www.michaeljfox.org/ or Donation Processing. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.swickbussachamberlin.com .