WASHINGTON, UT - Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather John James Cunningham, age 89, passed away Saturday, December 12, 2009 in St. George, Utah. He was born 7 February, 1920 in Canton, Ohio to James Ward Cunningham and Florence Eva Sutton and had one brother, Robert Samuel Cunningham . John spent his childhood years in Middlebranch, Ohio and graduated from Middlebranch High School where he played football, basketball and was active in scouting. Upon leaving high school he attended Penn State University until his education was interrupted by the war in 1941. At that time he began working in the steel mills as a metallurgist. He married his high school sweetheart, Josephine Ann Evans, in October, 1942. It was a lasting love which saw the celebration of their sixty-seventh wedding anniversary in October 2009. In 1943 John entered the Army Air Force and during his time in service became a Flight Engineer on the B-29. He continued to follow his dream to become a pilot and graduated from Williams AF Base as a fighter pilot, flying the P-51 and later the F-84, one of the Air Force's first fighter jets. In 1950 he retired from active duty and entered the AF Reserves and attended Purdue University graduating in Air Transportation in May of 1952. John and family traveled west to Los Angeles, California where he took a position in the world's first helicopter airline, Los Angeles Airways. Seeing the need for this type of air transportation in San Francisco, he co-founded SFO Helicopter to provide passenger service in the Bay Area. While with SFO he was instrumental in bringing the first Hovercraft to the US and pioneering the use of Hovercraft for transportation around San Francisco Bay. John was licensed by the Coast Guard as the first Hovercraft pilot in the United States. In 1966 John joined the Brigham Young University staff, first as an instructor in air transportation and later as a part of the Fund Raising office of the University. He retired from BYU in 1985. Having bought and sold properties for the University he opened his own Real Estate Office in Provo, Utah, where he remained until finally retiring and moving to Washington, Utah. In his later years he continued to pursue his love of flying with the St. George Civil Air Patrol, culminating a 53 year career as a licensed pilot. He also served with his wife as Site Stewards for the BLM in Utah and on the Arizona Strip. John and Josephine were converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple May, 1959. He served as a Bishop in the Pacifica, California Ward and as a Stake Missionary several times, always staying active in teaching or whatever he was called to do. John and Jo are the parents of eight children: sons; John Robert (Gail), David Glen (Kristine), Bruce Alan (Terrie'), Joseph Evan (Karen), Daniel Sutton (Lori) and Andrew James. Two daughters; Ann Lee (John), Ribera and MJ (Brad) Bakove. They have 22 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren. John delighted in hiking and exploring in Southern Utah with "his boys" and grand children. The grand children fondly remember "Grandpa Tours." It was said of him that everyone should have a grandfather who has the patience of a saint and the knowledge of the ages. John was preceded in death by his parents and only brother, Robert Samuel Cunningham and grandson Justin Cunningham. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday December 15, 2009 at 11:00 AM at the Washington Fields 9th Ward Chapel, 115 West 2000 South, Washington, Utah. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the chapel. Interment will be at the Washington City Cemetery following the Services. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund.