William B. 'Bill' Cunningham

Preferring to be known as an inventor and entrepreneur, William B. "Bill" Cunningham, 85, owner of Order-Matic Electronics for 56 years, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 after a brief illness. Bill was still active and working at his beloved company until the last week of his life. He was never without his cell phone and a positive word to all who either called him or visited him in person. A Naval veteran from World War II, he marveled at the age of technology where an entrepreneur can literally run an entire company "out of his shirt pocket" using a mobile phone and tablet computer. Longtime friends and business associates also marveled at Bill's own technological achievements in the last half of the 20th century. The invention which began in Bill's garage in Oklahoma City in 1955 led to the first patented curb service ordering system, which included a built-in speaker. Little did he know that his mechanical experiment would revolutionize the fast-food industry in not only his home state of Oklahoma, but throughout the country and overseas. Bill's products for the restaurant industry have been used in Oklahoma since 1951 with the installation of his first system at Cattlemen's Drive In in Oklahoma City. Today his products are used in restaurants from Sonic, Taco Bell, Subway and many "Mom and Pop" establishments across the country. Bill is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Ernestine Elizabeth Cunningham and his brother, Robert Cunningham. Survivors include two sons, Gregory Cunningham and his wife, Lucretia of Edmond, and Steven Cunningham of Oklahoma City; one sister, Dorothea Jane Cunningham of Bethany; four grandchildren, Erin Sloan and her husband, Garry of Williamsburg, Va., Megan Sanford and her husband, Michael of Edmond, Stevie Simpson of Oklahoma City, and Derek Cunningham of Oklahoma City; nine great grandchildren, Jaden Polston, Naudia Brown-McCoy, Emma Sloan, Garrison Sloan, Kai Simpson, Marley Simpson, Meredith Sanford, Chloe Cunningham and Brielle Cunningham. Bill is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 30 at Smith Kernke Funeral Home, 14624 N. May, Oklahoma City, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 31, at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Edmond, 201 E. 2nd St. Entombment will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens in south Oklahoma City.