He was the third of seven children born to the late Jack and Lillian Cornwell of Lancaster. He was predeceased by his siblings, Virginia Cornwell Lumpkin, William (Billy), George and James Cornwell. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elsie Beauchamp Cornwell, and their daughter, and son-in-law, Yvonne and Dr. Alfred Hurt of Reedville, and her two sons, Jeremy Stolfi of Raleigh, North Carolina and Thomas Stolfi of Lottsburg; and their son and daughter-in-law John Allen and Sally Cornwell of Weems, and their children Alexandra Cornwell of Richmond, Charlotte Charlton and her husband, Wesley, of White Stone, and Julian Cornwell of New York City. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Cornwell Keyser and his brother, Wilbur "Red" Cornwell of Kilmarnock. Additionally, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his sisters-in-law, Julia Oliver of Kilmarnock, Rebecca Beauchamp and Jean Brook, and her husband, Paul of Mechanicsville, all of whom he loved very much.
John was a decorated combat soldier, having served in the army during World War II, and survived many battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, John returned home to the Northern Neck and worked in the seafood business until he married Elsie Beauchamp in 1950. John and Elsie moved to Baltimore where John worked for the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company. Their son Allen was born in 1952, and their daughter, Yvonne, was born in 1956.
By 1960, John had become licensed as a barber and he and Elsie returned to the Northern Neck to open his barbershop and to be closer to family and friends. Upon returning to the area, he became a member of Henderson United Methodist Church. He was very active at Henderson and particularly enjoyed his role as the church's official worship greeter. He was asked to be its permanent greeter a number of years ago and continued faithfully until his illness. As a veteran of war, John understood the importance of honoring the veterans. He and Elsie were instrumental in beginning Henderson Church's Veterans Day Celebrations a number of years ago, and they helped to establish the Veterans memorial monument which was built on the church property. In addition to his devotion to Henderson Church, he was also active in the Callao Ruritan Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and during the 1960's, helped create the baseball team known as the Lottsburg Clippers, which continues today. He was loved by family and many friends, and will be missed by all.
The family will receive friends at Jones-Ash Funeral Home, Rainswood, Virginia, on Monday, January 7, 2013 from 7-8:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Henderson United Methodist Church, Callao, Virginia. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at http://www.alz.org/, or to the Veteran's Memorial at Henderson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 22, Callao, Virginia, 22435.
He was the third of seven children born to the late Jack and Lillian Cornwell of Lancaster. He was predeceased by his siblings, Virginia Cornwell Lumpkin, William (Billy), George and James Cornwell. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elsie Beauchamp Cornwell, and their daughter, and son-in-law, Yvonne and Dr. Alfred Hurt of Reedville, and her two sons, Jeremy Stolfi of Raleigh, North Carolina and Thomas Stolfi of Lottsburg; and their son and daughter-in-law John Allen and Sally Cornwell of Weems, and their children Alexandra Cornwell of Richmond, Charlotte Charlton and her husband, Wesley, of White Stone, and Julian Cornwell of New York City. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Cornwell Keyser and his brother, Wilbur "Red" Cornwell of Kilmarnock. Additionally, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his sisters-in-law, Julia Oliver of Kilmarnock, Rebecca Beauchamp and Jean Brook, and her husband, Paul of Mechanicsville, all of whom he loved very much.
John was a decorated combat soldier, having served in the army during World War II, and survived many battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, John returned home to the Northern Neck and worked in the seafood business until he married Elsie Beauchamp in 1950. John and Elsie moved to Baltimore where John worked for the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company. Their son Allen was born in 1952, and their daughter, Yvonne, was born in 1956.
By 1960, John had become licensed as a barber and he and Elsie returned to the Northern Neck to open his barbershop and to be closer to family and friends. Upon returning to the area, he became a member of Henderson United Methodist Church. He was very active at Henderson and particularly enjoyed his role as the church's official worship greeter. He was asked to be its permanent greeter a number of years ago and continued faithfully until his illness. As a veteran of war, John understood the importance of honoring the veterans. He and Elsie were instrumental in beginning Henderson Church's Veterans Day Celebrations a number of years ago, and they helped to establish the Veterans memorial monument which was built on the church property. In addition to his devotion to Henderson Church, he was also active in the Callao Ruritan Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and during the 1960's, helped create the baseball team known as the Lottsburg Clippers, which continues today. He was loved by family and many friends, and will be missed by all.
The family will receive friends at Jones-Ash Funeral Home, Rainswood, Virginia, on Monday, January 7, 2013 from 7-8:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Henderson United Methodist Church, Callao, Virginia. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at http://www.alz.org/, or to the Veteran's Memorial at Henderson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 22, Callao, Virginia, 22435.
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