Dorothy Cunningham

Dorothy Louise (Pettit) Tharp Berdine Cunningham, 83 of Crucible, Pa. and formerly of Rutan, Greene County, died at 4:05 P.M. on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 in her home. She had been in failing health for the last year and her caregivers were her daughter, Betty Jane Clay, son-in-law, Rick and grandsons, Rick, Jr. and Charlie. Mrs. Cunningham was born October 12, 1926 in Center Township (Rutan), Greene County, Pa., the youngest daughter of William H. and Ida Mae (Reed) Pettit and has resided most of her life in Greene County. She was a homemaker most of her life and had been a caregiver many times. Mrs. Cunningham worked as a waitress at the Waynesburg Restaurant, at Buckheimer's in Cameron, W. Va. and as a bar maid in Hundred, W. Va. She was a member of the Fairview United Methodist Church in Wind Ridge and enjoyed cooking, baking pies and homemade bread, canning, quilting and puzzles. However, she was the happiest when she had her family around her. Mrs. Cunningham resided in New Freeport for about 26 years before moving to Houston, Pa. She lived in Crucible since 1998. Surviving are five sons, Thomas R. Tharp, Sr. and Joseph L. Tharp, Sr. and his wife, Melanie, all of Waynesburg; Harold D. Tharp and his wife, Leslie of Claysville, Pa., Bruce A. Tharp, Sr. and his wife, Millie of Amity, Pa. and Robert N. Tharp, Sr. and his wife, Kathleen of Washington, Pa.; two daughters, Betty Jane Clay and her husband, Rick, Sr., with whom she made her home in Crucible and Jennie Mae Adams and her husband, Floyd, Sr. of Cleveland, Ohio; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; a sister, Mabel M. Maxwell of Crucible and many nieces and nephews. Deceased in addition to her parents are her first husband, Thomas Harold Tharp; her second husband, Glenn Berdine; her third husband, Dwayne Dean Cunningham; an infant daughter, Priscilla Louise Tharp; two grandchildren; six brothers, Lester, Leroy, Clarence, Frank, James and Raymond Pettit and three sisters, Nellie Schroeder, Ruth Wright and Helen Martin. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Medical Home Hospice, 168 W. Chestnut Street, # 19, Washington, PA 15301. After the graveside committal, the family will gather for dinner at the First Assembly of God, 4131 W. Roy Furman Hwy., Waynesburg, Pa. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences and flowers at www.rushfuneralhomeinc.com.