OWENSBORO, Ky. — Iola Beatrice “Bea” Cundiff, 99, of Owensboro, passed away on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, 11 ½ hours shy of her 100th birthday to spend it with her husband, Elwood, in heaven. She was born Jan. 13, 1924, in Ohio County, Kentucky, to the late Claudis and Viola Jones James.
Bea was a licensed practical nurse having worked at Leisure Years Nursing Home and at the Hartford Professional Care Home and worked as a security guard for Allied Security.
Bea was a member of Small House Baptist Church in Ohio County. She had managed the former Top Value Stamp Store and was an avid U.K. basketball and Atlanta Braves fan.
Bea was also preceded in death by her husband, Elwood Cundiff, on Oct. 13, 1997; a daughter, Kathern Cabbage; three sisters, Delphine Addington, Jean Hamilton, and Shirley Alexander; and a son-in-law, John Phelps.
Surviving are a daughter, Joann Phelps; two sons, Bob (Vicky) Cundiff and Bill (Mae) Cundiff; a son-in-law, Jerry Cabbage; 10 grandchildren, Jeff D. Phelps, Ted (Katy) Cabbage, Sean (Diana) Cabbage, Jason (Amy) Cundiff, Tracy (Dan) Summersgill, Aaron (Jessica) Cabbage, Rebecca (Jeff) Haynes, Rachel (Joe) Sampson, Robert Cundiff, and Natalie Abshier; and 17 great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 10 step-great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 12 noon Friday, Jan. 19, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with burial following in Owensboro Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Friday at the funeral home.
The family would like to thank the staff at Signature Healthcare—Hillcrest for all the love and compassionate care they gave Bea while she was there.
Messages and condolences to the family can be shared at www.glenncares.com.