Elizabeth "Betty" Cunningham

Elizabeth (Betty) Cunningham passed away on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, in Wilmington, NC, at the age of 96 years.  Daughter of John and Elsie Bauer, she was born on July 22, 1922, grew up in Matawan, NJ, and spent many summers throughout her life in her favorite “place up in the mountains”, Elka Park, NY.  She graduated from The Kent Place School in Summit, NJ, and attended Vassar College until leaving in February 1943 to marry Army Air Corps pilot William P. Hutchings.  They resided and raised their family in Locust Valley, Long Island, NY, until Mr. Hutchings death in 1979.  She moved back to Summit, NJ, and later married Frederick H. Cunningham in 1989.  The couple resided in Wilmington, NC until Mr. Cunningham’s death in 2007, after which she remained in Wilmington with her devoted and loving caregiver, Catherine (Kay) Higgins.  She combined her love of reading with her love of children by performing many years of volunteer service, including reading to children in comas, preparing recordings of books for the blind, and tutoring elementary school students. Betty is survived by her daughter Anne E. Nathans (Gene) of Wilmington, NC, her son John P. Hutchings (Gail) of Diamondhead, MS, and her stepsons, Rick Cunningham of Bonita Springs, FL, and Kelley Cunningham of Mesa, AZ. She was the loving Grammy of Laura and Paul Nathans and Andrew and Bill Hutchings. She was also survived by her brother-in-law “Mike” Meixell (Marilyn) and several nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service and visitation at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield, NJ 07090 on Thursday, May 9, 2019, from 10:30 until noon.  Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

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