Ruby Fletcher Cunningham was born on January 5, 1924, the second of five children of Eva Waterbury Fletcher and R. Frank "Doc" Fletcher, a veterinarian. Ruby was an exemplary student in school and also studied ballet, tap, tennis, and had some piano lessons. She graduated from The University of Wisconsin Platteille with a double major in English and history and began teaching high school at age 21. Soon she discovered her calling to be a Christian educator and earned her masters in christian education from Garrett Seminary (Northwestern University in Illinois). Ruby was subsequently employed at churches in Beloit, WI and Tulsa, OK before moving to Ohio in 1954, where she was hired as the Methodist Church's NE Ohio conference Christian Education Director, traveling throughout the conference as a new driver with a new car (and no GPS).
Ruby continued in her position, where she met a new pastor, Earl H. Cunningham. They worked together as counselors at a work camp, where something worked on them and they fell in love. The couple married in 1958, at which time Ruby resigned her post and became a full-time pastor's wife and then mother to daughter, Ruth, some years later. Together, the team served at four Cleveland area Methodist churches: Trinity (1956-63), Broadway (1963-68), Mount Pleasant (1968-77), and North Royalton (1977-86). Subsequently they served in Wadsworth (1986-88), Warren-Tod Avenue (1988-92) and Lorain-Faith (1992-1997). Ruby returned in her professional capacity as diaconal minister in three of those churches, beginning in North Royalton UMC. Both she and Earl retired in 1997 and moved into Earl's family home in the West Park area of Cleveland.
Ruby and Earl quickly became involved in several activities at Christ UMC, including choir and Bible studies. After Earl's passing in 2002, Ruby has remained a pillar of the church, to date still active in the women's group as co-president. In June 2022, she attended the East Ohio Annual Conference daily. Later in the month, she flew to Austin, TX to celebrate the 100th birthday of her sister Mary Alice "Fletch" Bauer. Ruby's daughter Ruth and her husband, Emanuel "Manny" Mora, moved in with her last year to care for her increasing needs. Ruby remained quite independent to the end, and is survived by one brother, Dr. Kent Fletcher, sister, Mary Alice, granddaughter, Erin Barr, and several nieces and nephews. She also has many close family friends. Ruby will be remembered as a strong but sweet woman, a good Christian, and an angel to many. Those knowing her have been truly blessed.
Visitation will be held on Saturday Oct 15th 7-9PM at DONLON FUNERAL HOME 15408 TRISKETT RD. CLEVELAND with funeral services Sunday Oct. 16 at 3PM at CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3625 W. 138th where family will receive friends from 2:00 until the time of service.