Larry Cornwell

1941 - 2018

Larry R. Cornwell, 76, died Thursday (Aug. 2, 2018) at his home in Newton.

He was born on Nov. 19, 1941, in Garnett, the son of Victor I. and Dolores Marie Welsh Cornwell. Larry graduated from Iola High School, after which he served in the U.S. Army and later attended San Francisco School of Mortuary Science.

Larry moved to Newton in 1967 and went to work for the Draper Funeral Home. For 45 years, he assisted thousands of Newton area families through their grief process. He retired in 2012 from Broadway Colonial Funeral Home.

He married Kathleen DeVader Sanger on June 18, 1988, in St. Marys.

Through the years, Larry has been a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Kansas Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association and served as trustee of the Eagles Lodge for seven years. He had served as secretary of the Kiwanis Club for 14 years, earning the Outstanding Secretary Award for seven years and had 14 years of perfect attendance. He had also been active with the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Kansas Eye Enucleation Association and was a board member of the Sunflower Chapter of the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, receiving the state CF Award.

Larry had worked on many fund drives for the United Way, cystic fibrosis, heart and cancer, as well as coached softball. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and had served on the Board of St. Mary's Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen of the home in Newton; children: Greg Cornwell and wife Sheila of Patterson, California, Jennifer Mitchell and husband Ben of Shawnee and Craig Sanger and wife Jennifer of Atchison; one brother, Darel Cornwell of Hot Springs, Arkansas; and six grandchildren: Todd Cornwell, Rebecca Cornwell, Ella Mitchell, Haley Mitchell, Paige Mitchell and Abigail Sanger.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents; and son, Jeffery Todd Cornwell on Feb. 15, 1987.

The Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 5, 2018) at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday (Aug. 6, 2018) at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. The casket will be open at the funeral home after 1 p.m. on Sunday; the family will receive friends between 5 and 7 p.m.

A memorial has been established with St. Mary's Catholic Church or Good Shepherd Hospice. Contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.