Obituary of Francis Willard Cornell, Jr.

Francis W. Cornell, age 81 of Pikes Creek, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, June 21, 2014 at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Mr. Cornell, Jr. was born at home in Pikes Creek on August 9, 1932 and was the son of the late Willard and Emma Naugle Cornell. Francis graduated from the former Lehman High School in 1950 and was employed as a carpenter by trade and also worked on his father's farm in Pikes Creek. He was a member of the Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Nanticoke. Francis enjoyed bowling in his younger years and was an avid hunter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Kenneth, Ralph, and Harold Cornell and sister, Ruth Valick. Francis is survived by his wife, the former Margaret Williams; children, Diane Pilosi and her husband Vito of Lake Township, Daniel Cornell and his wife Karen of Lehman Township, and Debra Soule and her husband Lee of Hamilton, NY; step-children, Gale Conrad and her husband Mark of Plymouth Township, Geary Rinehimer and his wife Tracey of Moosic, and John Rinehimer and his wife Donna of West Nanticoke; sister, Dorothy Antablin of Santa Ana, CA; 13 grandchildren,13 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 11:00 am from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with Pastor John Mosley of the Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church, Nanticoke, officiating. Friends may call 6:00 - 9:00 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Pikes Creek. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to be made to the Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church, 220 Middle Rd, Nanticoke, PA 18634.