Tony R. Cunningham, former firefighter and EMT, tow truck driver, medical equipment technician and the man who could fix almost anything, died Dec. 24, 2019,  of cancer at his home in Colorado Springs, CO.

   He was born Feb. 11, 1943, in Alva, Oklahoma, son of Elbert Lloyd “Dick” and Madge Cunningham. He graduated from Alva High School. He married Pam Zubeck on Sept. 28, 1981, in Garden City, Kansas.

   Tony served in the Air Force from 1962 to 1964, working as a crew chief on the B-52 bomber. He later moved to Garden City where he served as transportation director for Garden City School District, overseeing the district’s buses. He also worked at Sears, Kemper Electric, Kansas Claims and Schiffelbein Towing and served for many years as a firefighter and rescue squad captain for the Garden City Fire Department where he introduced the use of the “Jaws of Life” rescue equipment. He also served as a volunteer emergency medical technician for the Finney County EMS and as disaster chairman for the American Red Cross in Garden City, and served as a reserve police officer for both the Finney County Sheriff’s Office and Garden City Police Department. Tony coached women’s softball for many years in Garden City.

  While in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he worked for Girling Medical Equipment, and later in Colorado Springs he worked in the medical equipment and mobility fields. He retired in 2008 and enjoyed watching TV, tending to his yard and visiting with friends. Willing to try new things, Tony played an extra in two operas produced by the Colorado Springs Opera  Theater  — “Aida” and “Turandot.”

  Tony loved dogs. While in the Air Force, he adopted “Madge,” a German shepherd attack dog who would attack but would not kill. When she was destined for euthanasia because of this, he sneaked her off base and gave her a new life. He had many canine companions throughout his life.

   Tony, who belonged to the American Legion in Colorado Springs, spent most of his life in service to others and saved many lives as an EMT and a firefighter and made countless lives better through his work.

   He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Danny; his brother, Tom, and his mother-in-law, Doris Zubeck. He is survived by his wife; his daughter Kris Carr, her husband Monte, both of Lakin, Kan., and grandson, Dylan Carr, of Norman, Oklahoma; brother, J.C. Wood and his wife, Gail, of Meridian, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Ann Brink and her husband, Dan, and their two children, Bernie and Stephanie, of Colorado Springs; brother-in-law, Jan Zubeck, and his wife, Gloria, of El Paso, Texas, and his father-in-law, Robert Zubeck of Lakin.

   He will be buried in Deerfield Cemetery. No service is planned. Memorial donations are recommended to the animal rescue organization of the donor’s choice.