Laura Bell Cunningham

Laura Bell Cunningham

July 23, 1935 – December 14, 2018

Age 83, of Omaha, Nebraska; passed away on December 14th, 2018.  Laura Bell Cunningham was born on July 23rd, 1935 in Elm Creek, Nebraska. Her father’s engineering work took the family to several locales, notably towns in West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The family later relocated to Lexington, Nebraska, then Omaha, Nebraska where Laura Bell attended Omaha Central High School. She left high school a year early and matriculated at the University of Chicago, before graduating from Kearney State College with degrees in English and Geography. A lifelong learner, she later began work on a Master’s degree in Geography.

Laura Bell worked as a teacher in Los Angeles before returning to Omaha to work as a librarian, and then an administrator before “retiring” to stay at home with her twin sons. She devoted her time to all three sons. She was an avid reader and book collector; she enjoyed music of all kinds, especially classical, and she continually worked on becoming as good a chef as Julia Child. In later years, she delighted in spending time with her family.

Laura Bell was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne J. and Laura Lloyd Cunningham; son, Davin S. Torney; and grandson, Xavier Quinn. She is survived by her sons, Nicholas Cunningham and Charles (Claire) Cunningham; grandchildren: Tasha Kruse, Kathryn Jacobs, Hannah Cunningham, and Benjamin Cunningham; seven great-grandchildren; and sister, Mary Jane Brooks.

The family will have a private memorial service at a later time. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Omaha Public Library Foundation (noting Laura Bell Cunningham).

 

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