John R. Cornwall, loving husband, father and brother

FREEDOM — John R. Cornwall, 75, of Freedom, passed away Wednesday (June 11, 2025) at his home, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with cancer.

John was born June 20, 1949, in Hornell, a son of the late Maxwell and Marilyn Maxfield Cornwall. On Aug. 24, 2019, he married the former Millie Lingenfelter, who survives.

John was a 1967 graduate of Delevan-Machias Central School. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1969, serving as a gunner with helicopter squad 262 on the CH-46 Sea Knight during the Vietnam War.  John was discharged as a Sergeant/E5, earning the Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Service Medal along with multiple other awards in 1971.

He worked for Citizen Central as a loan officer, a dairy farmer and in recent years a bus driver with Ellicottville and Franklinville central schools.

John was a kind, hardworking man who was friend to everyone. He always had a joke or story to tell — anything to make one laugh or remember the old days.

John was a season ticket holder for the Buffalo Sabres for many years. He enjoyed attending games, as well as camping and spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren, as well as his special friends Tim and Cheryl O’Brien.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Christopher (Katie) of Machias, and Todd (Krista) Cornwall of Montgomery, Ala.; three daughters, Chrissy (Christopher Titus) Lingenfelter of Machias, Carrie (Marcus Pearson) Mumbach of Miami, Fla. and Rachel (Shawn) Snyder of Lemmon, S.D.; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; brothers, Stephen (Helen) of Machias, Mark (Bonnie) of Montgomery, James (Rose) of Conway, N.C. and David (Kim) of East Berlin, Conn.; sister-in-law, Elaine Cornwall of Lewiston, Maine; as well as several nieces and nephews.

John was predeceased by his parents; and his brother, Thomas Cornwall.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday (June 15, 2025) at the Machias firehall. Please wear your Buffalo Sabres gear to honor John. A private burial will be held at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Machias with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to The Machias Youth Commission, P.O. Box 87 Machias, NY 14101; and Machias American Legion Post 1460, 9688 Main St., Machias, NY 14101.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Babbitt & Easton Funeral Home, 7 N. Main St., Franklinville.

Online condolences may be made at https://www.babbitteastonfh.com/.