Kay A Cunningham, 84, Columbia City and formerly of Swayzee, passed away at 5:55 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, at Miller’s at Oak Pointe, Columbia City. Born Sept. 20, 1931, in Swayzee, he was the son of Virgil C. and Mattie M. (Lyons) Cunningham.

He was an athlete at Swayzee High School, playing baseball, basketball and track and field and still holds the school’s record for the high jump. Kay graduated with the Class of 1949. In 1959 he played on the Swayzee Merchants baseball team where he was voted most valuable player. He later played on several softball teams, winning 3 Grant County championships. He retired in March of 1990 as a Chief Medical Administrator at the V.A. Medical Center in Marion, Indiana with over 38 years of service. He had received many recognitions and awards for high satisfactory performance and outstanding accomplishments throughout his work history. In 1989 he co-chaired “A Century of Caring” in celebrating 100 years of caring for American War Veterans in 1983 he was President of the Grant County United Way. He also was Past Master of Grant Lodge 637 Free and Accepted Masons. Kay had moved from Sawyzee to Marion, Marion to Ill., Butler, Pa., back to Marion, Huntington and La Fountain until 2014 when he moved to Columbia City.

Survivors include his son: Timothy R. Cunningham, Columbia City; daughter: Brenda K. (John) Poe, Salisbury, N.C.; sister: Phyllis (Joe) Razor-Gordon, Kennesaw, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents; brother: Robert Cunningham; and sister: Vivian Burke; Wilma Jeane Kimmell.

Visitation will be held from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home with his funeral service at 10 a.m. Memorial gifts may be given in Mr. Cunningham’s memory to American Diabetes Foundation or Alzheimer’s Association.