George Clyde Cunningham was born on June 11, 1904 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the second of seven children born to Elmer Ellsworth “Ell” Cunningham and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham. His father, Ell was a farmer and had served as a magistrate for the Maple Grove Community in Trigg County. His mother was the daughter of Cullen T. and Virginia Thomas Bridges.
On February 11, 1923, Clyde married Robbie Bell Bridges of Trigg County. Robbie was also a descendant of the Thomas-Bridges Family, being the daughter of Drew Manley and Lean Guier Bridges. Drew was a descendant of the Starkie Bridges family. Clyde and Robbie became the parents of six children, Aubrey Hershell, Albert Dale, Alfred Leslie, Dolly Mae, Martha Rhea and Mava Dale.
Clyde was primarily a farmer in the Warrenton community of Trigg County, but he was also involved in many construction projects. In 1926, Clyde worked on the construction of Lock and Dam 50 which was built on the Ohio River in Crittenden County, Kentucky. The dam was one of three dams built on the lower Ohio River in the 1920s for the purpose of insuring a nine-foot boating stage on the river at all times during the year. Clyde also worked on the clearing of the land for Kentucky Lake which was formed by the Kentucky Dam which was begun in 1938 and completed in 1944.
Another construction project that Clyde was proud to have participated in was the construction of Maple Grove Baptist Church. He and Robbie were charter members of the Maple Grove Baptist Church and he along with his sons helped with the construction of the church in 1944-1945. Clyde was ordained as one of the first deacons in the church on January 24, 1945.
Clyde and Robbie lost their second son, PFC Albert Dale Cunningham in World War II. He was killed in action on November 28, 1944. He was buried in the Epinal American Cemetery in southern France with full military honors. In 1948 his body was brought home and reburied in Trigg County.
Clyde died at the age of 69 on October 19, 1973 as a result of a farming accident. He was preparing to do some farm work with his tractor and bush hog. The equipment was in gear when he started and both the tractor and bush hog ran over him causing multiple injuries. Clyde was buried in the Allen Cemetery in Trigg County, Kentucky. His wife, Robbie, died on May 4, 2004 at the age of 99 and was buried beside Clyde in the Allen Cemetery.
LINEAGE: (George Clyde Cunningham was the son of Rosa Lee Bridges and the grandson of Cullen T. and Virginia Thomas Bridges. Cullen was the twelfth child of William Bridges and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges. Mary Thomas was the fifth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)
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