Ernest Clair Cunningham, 88 of Pensacola, FL died Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

Mr. Cunningham was born on August 24, 1932 in Mt. Jewett, PA.  He left Pennsylvania at the age of 18 to join the Marine Corps.  He served as a jet and helicopter pilot in his time in the Corps, saw combat in Vietnam and retired after 32 years as a Colonel.  In his time serving his country he was the recipient of the Legion of Merit, three distinguished Flying Crosses, forty four Air Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Commendation and the Navy Unit Commendation Medal.  After retiring from the military he established an accounting business specializing in tax preparation in Pensacola and was a tour guide at the Naval Aviation Museum.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Starner Cunningham; father, Ernest Clair Cunningham Sr.; sisters, Ruth Cunningham, Leatrice Coyle and  Joyce Danielson.

He is survived by his wife, Mooneen Cunningham; daughter, Lori Green of Jacksonville, FL;  son, Steven Cunningham of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; daughter, Tracy Hastings of Newnan, GA;  son, Jeffrey Cunningham of Riverview, FL; daughter,  Cathleen Kough of Coronado, CA; granddaughter, Shea Steininger of Melbourne, FL;  grandson,  Jared Green of Plano, TX;  grandson,  Kody Hastings of Del Ray, FL; grandson, Karson Hastings of Newnan, GA;  granddaughter,  Kiley Hastings of Newnan, GA; son-in-law, Todd Hastings of Newnan, GA;  granddaughter, Delaney Kough of Los Angeles, CA; granddaughter, McKenzi Kough of Salt Lake City, UT; son-in-law, Lawrence Kough of Coronado, CA; great-grandson, Keegan Steininger of Melbourne, FL; great-granddaughter, Kylah Steininger of Melbourne, FL;  great-granddaughter,  Amelia Green of Plano, TX; grandson-in-law, Brett Steininger of Melbourne, FL  and granddaughter-in-law, Emma Green of Plano, TX.

Private Family Funeral Service will be held and burial will be at Barrancas National Cemetery on Naval Base Pensacola. Due to the Pandemic social distancing and mask will be required at the church and cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Enduring Fund for St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4600 N 9 ^th Ave, Pensacola Florida 32503 https://clear-give.com/egive3/index.cfm?page=donate or to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation https://navalaviationfoundation.org/in-memoriam/ in the name of Col Ernest C Cunningham Jr.