Regiment: Edmonton Fusiliers
Rank: Corporal
Raymond Cunningham, son of Berl and Ella (Perron) Cunningham, was born on April 7, 1928, in St. Front SK. Moving to St. Albert AB in 1930, and to Mearns AB in 1932, Raymond started his education at Egg Lake School in 1934 in Mearns, then he attended Lefebvre School in Girouxville, and he completed his schooling at College St. Jean in Edmonton. Afterwards he worked with his father and brother Norman on the family farm in Girouxville AB, clearing and breaking land, and farming. Ray joined the Edmonton Fusiliers during WW II and reached the rank of Corporal. (His brothers Vernon and Norman also served in WW II.) In 1946 he homesteaded his own land: S ½ 12-77-23-5 in the Girouxville area, and eventually he farmed 1200 acres. On April 7, 1952, Ray married Beatrice Hebert. They had 5 children: Brenda, Debbie, Joan, Wayne, and Nicole. Having several jobs and hobbies apart from farming, Ray was very involved in community activities. He helped build the church, was chairman of Guy Rural Electrification Association, trustee for the Lefebvre School District, and member of East Peace Gas Co-op. From his early years, he was an avid baseball player, later becoming an umpire. He enjoyed hunting and trapping, and travelling with his family. In his later years, he spent winters in California and Florida. Beatrice died in 1991.
Source: Reflexions pp. 464 – 466, Photo p. 231
AGS – Obituary Index