Howard Francis Cornell

Howard Francis Cornell

Howard Francis Cornell,86, of 212 Liberty Ridge Road passed away Sunday, March 28, 2026, at Woodruff Manor.

Howard was born August 7, 1939, in Hornell, New York, the son of the late Harold and Maude Bess Cornell. He was a 1957 graduate of Jasper Central School, Jasper, New York, where he served as senior class president and Jasper Chapter FFA president. While in High School, he served as Steuben, County FFA president and was the 1956-1957 New York State FFA president.

Howard attended Alfred Agricultural and Technical College, earned a B.S. Degree at the University of Georgia, a master's degree in Secondary Guidance and Counseling at Edinboro State College, and a certificate of School District Administration at St. Bonaventure University.

From 1968 until retirement in 1998, he taught Agricultural Education and was the FFA Advisor at Clymer Central School, Clymer, New York. He served as the Chautauqua County FFA Advisor for twenty years and also served as Secretary and Chairman of the New York State FFA Board of Trustees. He served as president of the Clymer Education Association for two years. In 1996, he was named Teacher of the Year by the Agricultural Teachers Association of New York. He also served the Clyman Central School District as Transportation Supervisor and Superintendent of Schools.

Prior to teaching agriculture, he was employed by the New York State Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Addison Co-op. G.L.F., Steuben County Highway Department, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Service. He taught Industrial Arts at Bradford Central School for one year prior to moving to Clymer, New York.

Howard was an avid bowler and golfer and served as President of the Sunday Knights and Damsels bowling league for many years. He was a longtime Green Bay Packers fan and collected Green Bay memorabilia. He was a member of the Clymer Central School Agricultural Advisory Board and the French Creek Watershed Management Group. He also served as President of the Corry Country Club Wednesday Wonders golf league for two years. After retirement in 1998, he established a home in Enoree, South Carolina and maintained a summer home at Harecreek Campground in Corry, Pennsylvania.

His first love was Nancy, his wife of 54 years and his family. He also enjoyed corresponding with his many former agriculture students and FFA members.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Jean Cornell on June 15, 2015. He is survived by two sons, Vernon Mark Cornell (Evelyn) of Victorville, California and Vaughn Cornell (Lisa) of Jamestown, New York; a daughter, Vickie Pruitt (Steven) of Enoree, South Carolina; three grandchildren, Brittany and Rachel Pruitt of Enoree, South Carolina and Keaton Cornell of Victorville, California; and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a special friend and companion, Judy Craday of Corry, Pennsylvania.

A memorial service will be held at the family's convenience.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Clymer FFA c/o Clymer Central School, 8672 East Main Street, Clymer, New York, 14724

Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary, Woodruff