Gib Cunningham, 90, Salina, passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in the comfort of his home. He was born Gilbert L. Cunningham on December 9, 1934, in Hays Kansas to Frank L. and Monta Cunningham.
Gib, a United States Marine, and JoAnn Nissley were united in marriage on December 30, 1955. They were the proud owners of Designs by Cunningham in Salina before retiring in 2014 after 52 years.
He was proud of his profession and loved being a florist. Known as the home of the original "Five Buck Friday Flowers" and "Roses R Us" special sale events at Designs by Cunningham, he shared his love for flowers with everyone. As a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers he had many opportunities to teach at design schools and floral conventions across the United States and was chosen in the early 1970's with a select group of florists to join the People to People educational program to travel and share his floral talents with Russian florists.
As a Certified Floral Designer in the American Academy of Florists, he also taught in Holland, South Korea, and Taiwan. His greatest honor was being selected by the Society of American Florists to be part of the team to design the floral decorations at the 1985 and 1989 Presidential Inaugurations
Gib was a charter member of the TriRivers Detachment Marine Corp League and a longtime member of the Salina Breakfast AMBUCS, but his family was always what he was most proud of.
Gib’s smile, generosity and sense of humor will be missed by many.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Albert and Roberta.
Survivors are his wife of 69 years, Jo; daughter, Kimberly Cunningham; sons, Skip Cunningham (Kim Ann), Bob Cunningham; brother, Jerry Cunningham; sister, Becky Schnee; grandchildren, Chip (Angie), Christy, Trey (Alicia), Kyle (Brie), Caity (Lance), Courtney; and six great-grandchildren.
The visitation will begin at 11:00 A.M., Friday, May 2, at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1425 S. Ohio, Salina. Funeral services with military honors will begin at 1:00 P.M. Memorials may be made to the Salina Breakfast AMBUCS for the AmTrykes program and may be left in care of Wilson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 166, Minneapolis, KS 67467.