Obituary of John Cunningham

John Michael Cunningham, 52, died peacefully September 14, 2013 in Kannapolis, NC after a courageous battle with appendix cancer. John was born in Camp Lejeune, NC on November 27, 1960 to John Cunningham and Martha Zerres Cunningham. John spent most of his life in Millcreek Township before moving to Charlotte, NC in 2007. He was a 1979 graduate of McDowell High School and earned his Associate's Degree in Business Administration at Mercyhurst University. John worked at Hedlund Auto Glass in Erie for many years and was employed at Acosta Sales & Marketing in Charlotte at the time of his diagnosis. He was also co-owner of Frosty Ice, Inc. while living in Erie. John was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents George and Rachel Zerres and paternal grandparents John and Helen Cunningham. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his loving wife of 29 years Sally Ballman Cunningham, his son Ryan Cunningham and partner Tim Krofecheck of Queens, NY, daughter Leah Cunningham and partner Hugh Ritchie of Charlotte, NC, and his grandson and best buddy Colin Ritchie of Charlotte. He is also survived by brothers Joseph Cunningham and wife Barbara of Niceville, FL, Jeffrey Cunningham and wife Melissa of St. Petersburg, FL, a sister Valerie Tsekouras and husband George of California, MD and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. John pursued many of his dreams and lived life with a passion. He was a gifted singer and performed in several musical theater productions at the Erie Playhouse in the early 2000's. He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and NASCAR fan. He drove the "Spongebob Krabby Kabby" car in the Figure 8 division of racing at Lake Erie Speedway, which was a favorite of the kids who attended the races. After moving to Charlotte, he joined the North Mecklenburg Community Choir and had roles in locally produced independent films. His love of performing led him to a featured extra role in the upcoming season of the Cinemax series "Banshee". John was rarely seen without his American Eskimo dog, Bailey, at his side. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Thursday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited there on Friday for the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment Laurel Hill Cemetery. Memorials can be made in John's memory to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27103, to assist in their dedicated research for a cure for appendix cancer.