Richard “Dick” Cundiff, 83, of Heyworth died Saturday (Jan. 30, 2010) at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.
His funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Wapella. Burial will be in Longpoint Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Heyworth. Memorial gifts may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation; St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Wapella; or Advocate BroMenn Hospice.
Richard was born April 30, 1926, in New Haven, Ky., to Austin and Selma Whalen Cundiff. He married Wanda Slayback Cundiff on May 7, 1949, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wapella. She survives.
Also surviving are a son, Rick (Nancy) Cundiff, Bloomington; three brothers, Thomas Cundiff, Springfield; Emmett (Doris) Cundiff, Clinton; and Frank Cundiff, California; four grandchildren, Carrie (Mike) Lee, Normal; Maggie Cundiff, Orlando, Fla.; Kellie Cundiff, Chicago; and Randy Tomera, Bloomington; two great-granddaughters, Abbie and Katie Lee; and two nephews, David Slayback and David Rousey, Heyworth, whom he was instrumental in raising.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.
Richard attended Wapella High School and Illinois State Normal University.
He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service for 38 years.
He loved sports, fishing, the Fighting Illini, stamp collecting and his family.
Richard Cundiff had a terrific knowledge of sports both as a participant and a spectator, and is regarded as one of the greatest athletes in Wildcat History. A gentleman, Richard Cundiff could cheer for one team without begrudging an opponent. Richard traveled with both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs and was well known among each team's organization including personal friendships with Cardinal Great Lou Brock and Cub and White Sox great Ron Santo.
Richard carried on the long Wildcat tradition of assigning multiple near non-sequitur nicknames to his friends and collected many of them for himself, enjoying a colorful description as well as being able to deliver and take a good joke. He never met a stranger and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.
All flags half mast please for WWII Army AIr Corp Veteran, Richard Cundiff
2 comments:
My favorite Cundiff story (out of a long list) I was listening to Vince Lloyd and Lou Boudreau in the 1970's doing a Cubs broadcast.
Lou said, "Look over there, Richard and Wanda Cundiff are here"
Vince: "That Wanda looks great. She is one pretty lady"
Lou: "Wanda sure is. Richard isn't"
They both start laughing like they really got Richard on the air.
I saw Richard at Mass the next week and related the story. His response "professional jealousy".
RIP Richard Cundiff - great man.
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