DON VINCENT CUNNINGHAM entered the promised rest of Christ our Savior on Sunday, July 31, 2016. A seventh generation Texan, he was born to William Vincent Cunningham and Tennessee Velma "Patsy" Caudle on August 10, 1931, in Amarillo.

Reared in Abernathy, Texas, he helped his father run the Cunningham Cotton Gin, still operating today as City Gin. He attended Hardin Simmons University for two years and played in the renowned Cowboy Marching Band. In 1951, during the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force. He was selected to attend flight school and commissioned as a pilot in 1953. Trained as a fighter pilot, he was assigned to fly the all-weather interceptor F-86D. He flew with the 321st Fighter Interceptor Squadron from Truax Air Base, Wisconsin, and received the National Defense Service Medal. Returning as a First Lieutenant, Don finished his Bachelor of Business Administration at Hardin Simmons and began flying for Central Airlines. While with Central and Braniff Airlines he flew the DC-3 and Lockheed Electra before starting his MBA at Baylor University. At both Hardin Simmons and Baylor he sang in the A Cappella Choir under the legendary Dr. Euell Porter. He married Maryetta Fewin of Columbus, Kansas, in 1960. He began flying for Eastern Airlines in 1963, and in 1988, completed twenty-five safe years as a Captain. While with Eastern, he flew the DC-9, B-727, and L-1011 aircraft. After retirement from Eastern, he joined the FAA as a Flight Safety Inspector until his second retirement in 1993. He worked with the Texas Baptist Men to build the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Alberta, Canada.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Maryetta Cunningham of Denton; children Laurel Cunningham, Bruce Cunningham and Donna Westbrook; 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

He was a charter and life member of the F-86 Sabre Pilots Assoc., American Legion, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Wise County Veterans Group, Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Assoc. and Wood Turners of North Texas.

He will always be remembered for his faithful Christian witness, his quiet, gentle love and deep appreciation for simple things. He was a consummate man of his word, characterized by true and sacrificial giving. An anchor for his family, church, and country because of his first love, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Visitation will be at DeBerry Funeral Directors, Friday, August 5, 2016 from 6-8 p.m. The Funeral service will be held at Highland Baptist Church in Denton, Texas, on Saturday August 6, 2016 at 9 a.m. Burial procession will follow to the historic Walnut Grove Cemetery in Prosper, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, POB 1890, Amarillo, Texas; Wise County Veterans Group or Highland Baptist Church, of Denton.