William Leonard Cunningham

July 15, 1939—August 24, 2023.

Bill was born on July 15,1939 to William A. and Agnes Marie Cunningham in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in the Cleveland area. Bill earned his B.A. at Oberlin College in Ohio in 1961. He earned a M.A. at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. While there, he married Peggy Yoshina in 1963, and graduated in 1964. Bill was awarded a German Government Grant to study for a year at the Free University of Berlin in 1964-1965. He later earned a Ph.D in German Language at the University of Texas in Austin. His daughter Deborah was born on the day of a final exam. Bill taught at the University of Southern California for four years. His daughter Barbara was born in Santa Monica. His last teaching post was at the University of Louisville where he eventually retired. Bill enjoyed seeing trains, as wells as trolley cars and steam engines when they were on exhibit. He took the family to visit historical sites in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee. These trips were both educational and fun.

Bill's body was donated to the University of Louisville School of Medicine -- always a teacher, even in death. He was predeceased by his parents, younger brother, Robert, and daughter, Barbara. He is survived by Deborah Tat (Phillip), grandsons Brandon and Justin, and granddaughter Katie. Special thanks are extended to his long-time neighbor, Andrea Clifford, who visited him regularly, and the staff at Sunrise of Louisville where he lived for several years.