Olan Bradford Cunningham, age 92, of Winfield passed away on Friday, May 17, 2024 at Country Place Senior Living in Winfield. He was born on January 15, 1932 in Kansas, Alabama to Elijah and Flora Cunningham. Olan attended public schools in Walker County and graduated from Winfield High School in 1951. He attended Auburn University on scholarship and received a Bachelor’s degree in education in 1954 and his Master’s degree in agriculture in 1955. After graduating college, Olan was a teacher and coach at Hubbertville High School and Red Bay High School. While at Red Bay, he coached an undefeated team in 1959.
Olan was married to the love of his life, Flo Rose, for 63 years. Olan and Flo raised their family in Red Bay until he left education and went into the insurance business in 1965 in Winfield. He ran his own State Farm Insurance Agency there until his retirement in 1999. While with State Farm, he received many awards including recognition for 20 consecutive years of membership in the Legion of Honor. Olan was very civic minded. He was always going the extra mile to help improve the city of Winfield. If you ever drove through Winfield in late November or early December, you would see him hanging Christmas lights in all the trees around city hall for everyone to enjoy. He was a longtime member of the Lion’s Club and C3. He was a member of the Winfield City Board of Education from 1967 – 1983, serving as vice-chairman from 1973 – 1978, and chairman from 1978 – 1983. Olan was also inducted into the Marion County and Franklin County Sports Hall of Fame. Family and friends, gardening, and all things Auburn were his passion. He also enjoyed spending time at Smith Lake with his family for the past 50 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Flo Rose Cunningham, parents, Elijah and Flora Cunningham, great grandson, Dylan Sce, siblings, Elaine Cunningham, Mary Belle Cuningham Estes, Donald Cunningham, James Thomas Cunningham, Solan Cunningham, Maxine Cunningham Weeks, Jim Cunningham, Earl and Bearl Cunningham, and Betty Sue and Baby Lou Cunningham.
Survivors include, children, Rose Perry (Davis), Sherry Cunningham, Susan Cunningham, Brad Cunningham (Shelly), and Tina Atkinson (Todd), grandchildren, Maghan Craig (Hal), Shannon Estes, Tyler Estes (Katie), Kris Sce, Adrian Dickerson (Eric), Trey Cunningham, and Olivia and Emma Atkinson, great-grandchildren, Addison, Harper, and Ashton Craig, Conner Sce, Ella and Cash Dickerson, and Levi Estes, and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. from the Winfield Church of Christ with burial to follow in the Winfield City Cemetery. The visitation will be on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. service time at the church.
