NEW OXFORD Anna (Moul) Cornwell, 106, formerly of Hanover, died Wednesday, October 17, 2007, at the Brethren Home Community where she had been living since 1999. She was the wife of John Gibson Cornwell, who died in 1979. Born May 4, 1901, in Hanover, she was the sixth child of Martin E. and Mary Elizabeth (Gemmill) "Molly" Moul. Anna's father was a prominent and highly respected leader in the business, civic, and religious communities of Hanover. He was a co-founder of the Hanover Wire Cloth Co. and helped to found and manage a planing mill. Largely self-taught, he was the architect for several public buildings and a designer of machinery. Anna grew up in a fine corner house that still stands at 301 E. Walnut St., designed and built by her father. Her mother and father were active in their respective churches in Hanover. Anna was raised in the church of her mother, the First United Methodist Church. Her parents made major gifts to this church when it was rebuilt in 1932, including the Hall Organ and Chimes and a stained glass window. She graduated from Hanover High School in 1919, and married John Gibson Cornwell, Jr. on December 20, 1923. He taught in the Hanover High School for two years (1921-23) and had then taken a position on the faculty at Dickinson Seminary (Later Dickinson Jr. College, now Lycoming College) in Williamsport, where he taught chemistry and served as Dean. During the Second World War, her husband was an officer in the Navy stationed at several universities where he participated in administration of programs for training of naval officers. During this period they lived in Ithaca, N.Y., Sewanee, Tenn., Cleveland, Ohio, and Arlington, Va. After a brief stay in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, they settled in Arlington (1947-69), where, as a civilian in the Navy Department, he played an important role in establishing and administering the post-WWII Navy Reserve Officer Training program. He retired as Captain, USNR. Anna pursued an active interest in music and art in Williamsport. She continued with course work at Corcoran Art Gallery and at George Washington University. Her studies at several schools and over several decades culminated in a B.A. degree in Art from G. W. Her focus in art was not academic, but creative. Many of her oil paintings were hung and sold at local art shows. In later years, her creative talent turned to craft work, providing favors and decorations for events at Foundry Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., and the First United Methodist Church in Hanover. In retirement, she and her husband returned to Pennsylvania, first to Williamsport, then to Hanover. Probably her favorite place on earth was a cabin on Rock Run, built in the Tiadaghton State Forest near Ralston, Pa. Built in 1939, it remained a delightful gathering place for family and friends. Except for two years during the Second World War, she spent some time there every summer through 2001. She is survived by two sons, Charles Daniel and John Martin, and two granddaughters, Christie A. and Katherine L. She was preceded in death by four older brothers, Alfred Guy, Walter Raymond, David Gemmill, and Horace Clare; and an older sister, Carrie. Her remains will be buried next to those of her husband in a private graveside service in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Published in the Evening Sun from 10/25/2007 - 10/26/2007.