William Charles Cornell's Obituary
William Charles Cornell age 76 passed away Sunday, March 27, 2016 in The Villages, Florida. William was born in Chelmsford, Essex, England and moved to The Villages in 2013 from Carbondale, Illinois. His career as a track and field coach spanned nearly 50 years and took him to Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky for 15 years and South Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois for over 30 years. He was a natural leader and he strove to make a difference in the lives of those he coached. His relationships with his athletes continued long after they graduated from college. Many of these student athletes became extend family members keep in touch for decades. William truly loved all sports and loved the game of golf. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 55 years – Rosemary; a sister – Wendy Petchey of Malden, Essex, England; and a brother – Brian Cornell of Coggeshall, Essex, England. The family suggest that memorial contributions in Coach Cornell's memory be made to: The Michael J. Fox Foundation - Grand Central Station, P. O. Box 4777, New York, NY. (Phone - 800-708-7644) or Cornerstone Hospice - 2445 Lane Park Rd., Tavares, FL 32778.
A celebration of Coach Cornell’s life will take place from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the Captiva Recreation Center 658 Pinellas Place, The Villages, Florida.
Page-Theus Funeral Home and Cremation Services
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