Donald Cornwell

Donald Edgar Cornwell was born August 28, 1923 to Harold and Florence Rousey Cornwell on a farm southwest of Osborne, Kansas.  Surrounded by his family, he passed away peacefully on April 24, 2021 in Overland Park, Kansas. He was 97 years old.

Donald went to grade school in a one room schoolhouse and attended high school in Covert, Kansas.  After high school, he attended Grand Island Business College, Grand Island, Nebraska.  Donald worked several years in Washington, D.C. and with Standard Oil Co., in Salina, Kansas.  After working several years, he attended Bethany Nazarene College (Now Southern Nazarene University) Bethany, Oklahoma and Kansas City University, Kansas City, Missouri (now University of Missouri - Kansas City).

Donald began a 38-year career with the Nazarene Publishing House, Kansas City, Missouri in 1953, as a Customer Service Manager.  He retired from there in January, 1989.

Donald met his wife, Colleen Karnes at the Nazarene Publishing House in 1953.  They were married in 1955.

In 1992, Donald and Colleen moved to Bethany, Oklahoma.  Colleen passed away in December, 2001.

In 2014, Donald decided to return to Kansas City, Missouri to be closer to his family, especially his brother, Kenneth Cornwell and sister, Lois Rae Vohs.

Donald was a member of First Church of the Nazarene, Bethany, Oklahoma and previously a long-time member of Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene.

Donald’s hobbies included reading, music, floral arrangement, and cooking.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Colleen, his parents, a brother, Hubert and sister Lois Rae Vohs.

Donald leaves his brother, Kenneth Cornwell of Overland Park, Kansas as well as nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 29 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at Overland Park Funeral Home.

Graveside service will be held April 30 at 1:00 pm at Chapel Hill Cemetery, 8701 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, 6789 Northwest 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK, 73008.