John Hilton Cornwell

John Hilton Cornwell, 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, May 18, 2025. John was born on July 18, 1948, in Provo, Utah, to Hilton Eldon Cornwell and Marie Harvey. He was the oldest of seven children and spent his early years in Blanding, Utah. He graduated from Orem High School and went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps, deploying to Chu Lai Air Base in Vietnam serving as an avionics repairman. After three years of honorable service and achieving the rank of Corporal, he was discharged and returned to Utah, earned a degree from Utah Tech and then attended the University of Utah. John married and had five children: Alan, James, Stacie, Kevan, and Jason. He joined the Army National Guard, working in Aviation Forward Support, and also began a long career at Heckett Engineering in Orem as a heavy equipment operator, where he worked for 30 years. In 2001, he was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch. He retired from the National Guard at the rank of First Sergeant. In 1988, John married Marie Van Buren, blending their families and adding five more children: Jennie, Jake, Ben, Josh, and Sam. They later welcomed their youngest, Zachary. They lived in American Fork, Utah in the home they built themselves until moving to Spring City, Utah in 2019 where they built a new home. John had a lifelong love of sports. Go Cougs! He coached little league baseball, later umpired, and spent countless hours attending the sporting events of his children and grandchildren. He was also an avid builder and could often be found in his woodworking garage, bringing Marie's many project ideas to life. John and Marie served an LDS mission in the Family Search Library from 2014 to 2016, and later volunteered for two summers at Heber Valley Girls Camp in 2017 and 2018. John is preceded in death by his parents, Hilton Eldon Cornwell and Marie Harvey, and his brother, Alan. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marie Cornwell, and his siblings: Bruce (Allison) Cornwell, Melanie (David) Boles, Gary (Charlene) Cornwell, Jess Cornwell, and Amy (Mike) Isom. He leaves behind their children: Jennie (Kevin) Neff, Alan (Julie) Cornwell, Jake (Paula) Peay, James (Shauna) Cornwell, Ben (Julie) Peay, Stacie (Josh) Powell, Josh (Emily) Peay, Kevan Cornwell, Jason (Becky) Cornwell, Sam (Janell) Peay, and Zac (Kiersten) Cornwell. He is also survived by 37 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren—with more on the way. Funeral services will be held on May 28th at the LDS Chapel located at 270 N 900 E, American Fork, UT. A viewing will be held from 10:00–11:30 a.m., with services to follow at 12:00 pm. Interment will take place at the Utah Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bluffdale, UT. Zoom link available upon request.

John Hilton Cornwell

July 18, 1948 - May 18, 2025