1917 – 2014

AUBURN — Edward Joseph Cunion, 96, passed away at Schooner Estates in Auburn on Thursday, Sept. 25.

He was born in Lewiston on Dec. 1, 1917, son of Patrick and Mary Elizabeth (Jenkins) Cunion. He was educated at St. Joseph’s School and was a graduate of Lewiston High School. He married Rosemary Gagnon in Lewiston on Aug. 29, 1953.

From 1937 through 1941 he was caddy master and assistant pro at Martindale Country Club in Auburn. He was also an assistant pro and golf shop manager at the original Ponta Vedra Country Club in Ponta Vedra Beach, Fla. He was a Ryder Cup selection in the late 1930s, which was postponed because of World War II.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946 as a member of the 639th Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the 99th Infantry Division in the European campaigns of World War II. He saw service in France, Belgium and Germany and earned three Battle Stars. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and in the capture and securing of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen.

After his discharge from the service, Ed worked in California for Douglas Aircraft and later in construction with Pacific Electric and Gas. He also worked for Iowa Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Pratt and Whitney in Hartford, Conn. Ed finished his career at Paragon Glass Works in Lewiston, retiring in 1973.

Ed was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Tri-County Agency for the Blind and the Maine State Agency for the Blind during the 1980s. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, Poland Spring Country Club, a lifetime member of the Lewiston Lodge of Elks, the American Legion and the Blinded Veteran’s Association.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; his children, Edward Jr. and his wife, Sedienyane, of Lakewood, Colo., Mary Grove and her husband, Todd, of Cumberland, and Patrick and his wife, Ellen, of Durham; his grandsons, Colin and Ethan Grove and Nathan and Caleb Cunion; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents; his sisters, Marguerite Tardiff and Christina Noel; and his brother, William, predeceased Ed.

Golf was his favorite pastime; Ed played until he was 87 years old. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandsons, walking, gardening, listening to the Notre Dame football team and the Boston Red Sox on the radio and listening to Talking Books on tape.

He would like to thank Dr. Matuska and Dr. Raczynski for the excellent medical care they provided him for many years. His family would also like to thank the staff at Schooner Estates for the wonderful care and kindness they showed Ed and his family.

Please visit www.advantageportland.com to sign Ed’s guestbook and leave memories and condolences for the family.