She is the tenth of the eighteen children born to John Allen and Mary Scelanda Shappy Gunckel. She married Ellsworth Cunningham and their only child is Athern Ellsworth Cunningham.

Vesta Belle Etta Gunckel Cunningham, Rossburg, died early this morning in a fire at her home.

A native of Darke County, she was the daughter of the late John Allen (1867-1942) and Mary Scelanda Shappy (1872-1941) Gunckel. She was a retired employee of Inland Steel, Greenville, where she had been employed for 18 years.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Athern Ellsworth "Buck" (1928-2008) and Bettie Louise Higgs (1933-1994) Cunningham of Rossburg; two granddaughters (Debbie Cunningham Barga and Cindra Cunningham Litten Fleenor); one grandson (Steven Ellsworth Cunningham); nine great-grandchildren (Amy Barga Maher, Karin Barga Napier, Kevin Barga, Marc Litten, Jeremy Litten, Kregg Litten, Kendra Litten, Chellie Litten Bradham, and Doug Cunningham); four sisters, Mrs. Leotina Gunckel Byers (1912-2006) and Mrs. Geraldine Gunckel Baumgardner (1909-2007), both of Greenville, Mrs. Georgina Gunckel McMahon (1914-2008) of Yermo, California, and Mrs. Delsia Gunckel Smith (1904-1992) of Dayton; and one brother, Earl Gunckel (1915-1986) of Greenville. Twelve brothers and sisters preceded her in death: Mary Latina Gunckel (1892-1892), Irene Gunckel Youtsey (1893-1972), Alva Phillip Gunckel (1894-1894), Nora Gunckel Thornhill (1895-1955), Jennings Gunckle (1897-1975), Edith Gunckel Tuttle (1899-1975), Cloyd Gunckle (1901-1965), Dollio Doyle Gunckel (1902-1902), Verna Ethel Gunckel (1908-1908), Isola Forest Gunckel (1910-1912), Leo Kenneth Gunckel (1911), and Harold Gunckel (1913-1977).

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Oliver Funeral Home, Ansonia, with the Reverend Ted Landis, Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Stelvideo Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ansonia Rescue Squad.