Esther Louise Cornell, 90, of Lomira, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2008, at Hope Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lomira.
She was born on August 22, 1918, in Morgantown, West Virginia, the daughter of the late Cyrus and Nellie Naomi (Feighner) Johnston. On June 15, 1940, she married Don LaRue Cornell in Morgantown, West Virginia. Esther was preceded in death by her husband on July 25, 2007. During WWII, while Don was overseas from May 1941 until 1945, Esther supported the war effort by working as a telephone switchboard operator in Morgantown, a skill she learned while a student at West Virginia University.
Esther and Don enjoyed traveling across the United States. They visited most of the National Parks and many dams and unusual bridges. (Don was an engineer and interested in these constructions.) They lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio, before moving to Timonium, Maryland. In 1990,eight years after retiring, they made their home in Brownsville, Wisconsin. Esther was a Friend of Trinity United Methodist Church in Lomira.
Esther raised four children while Don traveled weekly for his job as a petroleum engineer. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing everything from intricate Barbie Doll gowns to dresses for her daughters, including Cathy’s wedding gown. Esther was an award winning bowler, accumulating several bowling awards for high games and high series. She was secretary of her bowling league while they lived in Maryland. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, especially the New York Times Sunday puzzle. She also enjoyed cooking for her children and grandchildren. Her beef stroganoff, cheesy shrimp and rice, and marbled birthday cakes were among the most requested items.
Survivors include four children: Dr. James S. (Agnes) Cornell of Paramus, New Jersey, Catherine (Dr. Gary) Steele of Brownsville, Wisconsin, Anne Haddox of Grayson, Georgia,Mary (William) Daniels of Essex, Maryland; nine grandchildren, Emily (Cesar) Ruiz, Amanda Cornell, Kristin (Gary) Moffitt, Jacob and Isaac Steele, Kimberly and Kristen Haddox, April and William Daniels; five great-grandchildren, Justin, Catherine, Luke Ruiz, Abigail and Matthew Moffitt.
Esther has always been a special aunt (lovingly named Aunt Billie) to her wonderful nieces and nephews, Jo Anne Bailey, Lorna Littlecott, Esther Louise Lewis, Charlotte, Thomas and Joe Johnston.
In addition to her husband and parents, Esther was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Conway and Harriet Varner, four brothers, Paul, Ervin, Howard and Joseph Johnston, niece, Melinda Collins, and nephew Douglas Johnston.
A Memorial Service for Esther and her husband, Don was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2009, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 300 Church Street in Lomira. Rev. John Hobbins officiated and military honor rites by Bintzler-Waehler American Legion Post 347 Lomira followed the service. Burial was in Ebenezer Cemetery in the town of Lomira.
The family of Esther would like to extend a special thank you to the caring staff at Hope Senior Living (and Hope Nursing Home) in Lomira where she resided for the last two years.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been set up at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lomira.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Esther L. Cornell, please visit our flower store.
She was born on August 22, 1918, in Morgantown, West Virginia, the daughter of the late Cyrus and Nellie Naomi (Feighner) Johnston. On June 15, 1940, she married Don LaRue Cornell in Morgantown, West Virginia. Esther was preceded in death by her husband on July 25, 2007. During WWII, while Don was overseas from May 1941 until 1945, Esther supported the war effort by working as a telephone switchboard operator in Morgantown, a skill she learned while a student at West Virginia University.
Esther and Don enjoyed traveling across the United States. They visited most of the National Parks and many dams and unusual bridges. (Don was an engineer and interested in these constructions.) They lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio, before moving to Timonium, Maryland. In 1990,eight years after retiring, they made their home in Brownsville, Wisconsin. Esther was a Friend of Trinity United Methodist Church in Lomira.
Esther raised four children while Don traveled weekly for his job as a petroleum engineer. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing everything from intricate Barbie Doll gowns to dresses for her daughters, including Cathy’s wedding gown. Esther was an award winning bowler, accumulating several bowling awards for high games and high series. She was secretary of her bowling league while they lived in Maryland. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, especially the New York Times Sunday puzzle. She also enjoyed cooking for her children and grandchildren. Her beef stroganoff, cheesy shrimp and rice, and marbled birthday cakes were among the most requested items.
Survivors include four children: Dr. James S. (Agnes) Cornell of Paramus, New Jersey, Catherine (Dr. Gary) Steele of Brownsville, Wisconsin, Anne Haddox of Grayson, Georgia,Mary (William) Daniels of Essex, Maryland; nine grandchildren, Emily (Cesar) Ruiz, Amanda Cornell, Kristin (Gary) Moffitt, Jacob and Isaac Steele, Kimberly and Kristen Haddox, April and William Daniels; five great-grandchildren, Justin, Catherine, Luke Ruiz, Abigail and Matthew Moffitt.
Esther has always been a special aunt (lovingly named Aunt Billie) to her wonderful nieces and nephews, Jo Anne Bailey, Lorna Littlecott, Esther Louise Lewis, Charlotte, Thomas and Joe Johnston.
In addition to her husband and parents, Esther was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Conway and Harriet Varner, four brothers, Paul, Ervin, Howard and Joseph Johnston, niece, Melinda Collins, and nephew Douglas Johnston.
A Memorial Service for Esther and her husband, Don was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2009, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 300 Church Street in Lomira. Rev. John Hobbins officiated and military honor rites by Bintzler-Waehler American Legion Post 347 Lomira followed the service. Burial was in Ebenezer Cemetery in the town of Lomira.
The family of Esther would like to extend a special thank you to the caring staff at Hope Senior Living (and Hope Nursing Home) in Lomira where she resided for the last two years.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been set up at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lomira.