COL. R. WALTER “WALT” CUNNINGHAM USMC, USA, RET.

03/16/1932 - 01/03/2023

Apollo 7 astronaut, aviator, scientist, explorer, husband, friend, father, and grandfather, R. Walter “Walt” Cunningham passed away on Tuesday, the 3rd of January 2023, in the arms of his devoted wife, Dot, due to complications from a fall.

Throughout his vibrant and fulfilling life, Cunningham embodied a generation where love and dedication to the country, hard work, and excellence were core values. He faced danger, risk, controversy, and victory with his unique, straightforward “tell it like it is,” style.

He joined the Navy after high school before becoming a Marine Corps fighter pilot, flying 54-night missions during the Korean War.

In 1963, he was selected into the first astronaut class to admit non-test pilots among their ranks. He was initially assigned to fly Apollo 2, but the mission was canceled following a launchpad fire that killed the Apollo 1 crew. He was the lunar module pilot on NASA’s first Apollo manned mission in 1968 and then served as Chief of the NASA Skylab Astronaut Office overseeing 56 major scientific experiments.

Cunningham left NASA in 1971 with 4500 hours of flying time in 40 different aircraft and 263 hours in space. “The All-American Boys,” his reflection on the space program’s early days, was published in 1977. The updated edition was released in 2003. He also contributed to “In the Shadow of the Moon” in 2007 along with scores of technical, scientific, and opinion articles.

In his post-NASA professional life, Cunningham was a successful venture capitalist, investor, entrepreneur, and radio talk show host. Cunningham never retired but rather continued to be a sought-after lecturer, civic leader, and keynote speaker until his final days.

Yet Walt’s fondest moments were far away from the glamorous black-tie events and international travel but rather gathering with his children and grandchildren during Christmas listening to them read their annual journals, beginning his morning at McDonald’s over coffee and conversation with friends, and spending his evenings at home eating a quiet dinner with his beloved wife Dot, whom he considered the best chef in the world.

He is survived by his wife Dot; his son Brian and wife, Kathy Cunningham, and their daughter Tiffany; his daughter Kimberly Lenz, and her husband Carl along with their children, Jessica, Travis, and Brooke; Dot’s daughter Karen Vannerson, her son, Rodney Vannerson, and wife Lisa Vannerson and their children, Andrew and wife Rachel Vannerson, Victor Vannerson and his finance Kelsey Cottrel and Reese Vannerson; and Walt’s sister Cathy Cunningham. He was preceded in death by his parents; Walt and Gladys Cunningham; his siblings, Kenny, Carol Pilz, and Charlotte Winkler; and his half-brother Bill Cunningham.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Thomas Lux and his team at Methodist Hospital, and the nurses led by Shannon Wright for their tender and skillful care.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 23rd of January, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Walt will be honored by an astronaut panel in “Remembering Walt Cunningham” from ten o’clock until a quarter to eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 24th of January, at Houston’s First Baptist Church, 7401 Katy Freeway in Houston.

The funeral service will follow at eleven o’clock, officiated by Senior Pastor Gregg Matte.

Following the funeral service, all are invited to enjoy a tribute concert by the Texas Tenors who will be performing from half-past twelve o’clock until two o’clock in the afternoon.

KINDLY NOTE: Those unable to attend the services may join the livestream by visiting his online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the “Services” section. The link will go live shortly before ten o’clock and continue through to the end of the tribute concert.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to Be An Angel, 2003 Aldine Bender Rd., Houston, TX, 77032 (Or online at https://beanangel.org/donate/). Your generosity provides hope and positive change to the lives of special needs children and their families.

While visiting Col. Cunningham’s online memorial, we invite you to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting the “Add A Memory” icon.