Ellsworth Lee Cunningham

Ellsworth Lee Cunningham, of Bel Air, died February 21 at his home of 50 years, surrounded by family members following a battle with cancer. He was 70.

Born April 15, 1935 in Forest Hill, he was one of three children born to the late Ellsworth Preston and Mary Ruth Crouse Cunningham. After attending Chesnut Hill School and Dublin Elementary School, Mr. Cunningham graduated from North Harford High School in 1953. At a young age, Mr. Cunningham began his 30 year career as the purchasing agent in the family business with Standard Equipment, Inc. on Emmorton Road in Bel Air. He later spent nearly 20 years as a sales representative with A & A Bolt and Screw Co., Inc. in Baltimore.

An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Cunningham enjoyed canoeing, kayaking, mountain climbing, cross country skiing and camping with family and friends. In earlier years he shared this passion with the young men of Explorer Scout Troop 458 and the youth at Mountain Christian Church.

He was instrumental in the development and construction of Indian Lake Christian Service Camp in Darlington, Maryland.
A man of strong Christian faith, Mr. Cunningham was a member of Mountain Christian Church for 54 years. He served as an elder, chairman of the trustees, superintendent of Sunday School and participated in a short term mission trip to El Florido, Mexico.

In addition to his wife of 52 years, Doris Magness Cunningham, he is survived by daughters Karen McNeely and her husband Michael of Bel Air and Kim Ill and her husband Tony of Havre de Grace, and seven grandchildren, Sarah Ann Ill of Staunton, Virginia, T.J. Ill of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Kristi McNeely of Ft. Myers, Florida, Ryan Flanders of Baltimore, and Andrew McNeely, Ryan McNeely, and Lauren Flanders, all of Bel Air. Mr. Cunningham is also survived by his maternal aunt, Velia “Dee” Kone of Bel Air.

He was predeceased by a brother Ronald Cunningham and a sister, Phyllis Cunningham Simons.

Pall bearers will be grandsons T.J. Ill, Andy McNeely, Ryan Flanders and Ryan McNeely and nephews Greg and Mike Simons. Honorary pall bearers will be Tom Adams, Pete Bethke, Pete Carpenter, Rick Carr, Dr. Charles Cook, Jim Crilley, Mike Diegel, Bob Greene, Joe Groszkowski , George Harkins, Senator Robert Hooper, Johnny Lough, Dr. Jack Orth, Tom Pattison, Joey Potter, Mark Richardson, Andy Rodick, Don Sheffy, Dick Shockley, and Dick Wheeler.

Those who desire may contribute to Indian Lake Christian Camp to the “Ellsworth Cunningham Memorial Fund” 3915 River Road, Darlington, Maryland 21034.