Roylene G. Cunningham; School Board President

Roylene Gibbens Cunningham, president of the Santa Paula Union High School District’s Board of Education and a local librarian, died last week after a long bout with cancer. She was 54.

A parent volunteer whose three children attended Santa Paula schools, Cunningham was elected to the district’s board in 1992. Surprised at her victory at the time, she told a reporter: “It was one of those things where somebody says, ‘Guess what? You won.’ And you say, ‘Oh.’ ”

Cunningham’s life revolved around books, education and family, said Patrick, her husband of 22 years. Serving on the school board reflected that, he said.

“She did it because she was interested not just in our own children’s education . . . but to better serve the community,” he said.

Cunningham’s illness prevented her from attending board meetings in recent months. But a little over a month ago, her husband said, she managed to attend a meeting for a critical vote on an upcoming project.

“She was a very good person,” he said.

Born in Durango, Colo., in 1941, Cunningham attended Ft. Lewis College and Colorado State University and obtained a master’s degree in library science from the University of Denver.

She worked at USC Norris Medical Library in Los Angeles and the Eastern New Mexico University Library, where she met Patrick. The couple moved to Santa Paula in 1975.

She worked for the Ventura County Library Services Agency at the E. P. Foster, Wright and Simi Valley libraries. She also worked as a librarian at four schools and as a medical librarian at Santa Paula Memorial Hospital.

She is survived by her husband and daughters Carol, Cynthia and Eileen. Arrangements will be by Pierce Brothers Stetlar Mortuary, Santa Paula.

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