John Townsend Cornelius - Obituary

ohn Townsend Cornelius, 98, a former resident of Galesville, MD, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Bowie, MD. John was born on February 25, 1928, in West Chester, PA to the late Samuel and Miriam Keeler Cornelius. He spent his teenage years living in Washington, DC, attending McKinley Tech High School before moving onto Cornell University. In 1950, he became a State Farm Insurance agent where he worked tirelessly for 50 years and truly captured the definition of a “good neighbor.” John was a resident of Cheverly, MD from 1954 to 1988 where he and his wife, Bettie, raised their five children. Once they became empty nesters, they moved to Galesville, MD where they resided for 27 years enjoying their time by the water and hosting family and friends for dinners and parties. Outside of work and relaxing by the water, John loved to travel, spend time with his family and friends, and was a fan of the Washington Redskins, where he held season tickets for over 40 years. He was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, delivered meals to needy seniors for Meals on Wheels, and was a member of the Potomac River Jazz Club where he enjoyed live jazz and Dixieland music. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 71 years, Elizabeth “Bettie” Cornelius; his son, Edward; his grandson, Torey John; and his granddaughter, Tasha Fanska. He is survived by his children, Robert Cornelius of Wheatland, WY, Charles (Regina) Cornelius of Severna Park, MD, Susan Cornelius of Stevensville, MD, and Nancy (Gregory) Lerch of Crofton, MD; his grandsons, Christian, Scott, Thomas, and Jacob; his granddaughters, Sarah, Suzanne, Kerry, and Bethany; as well as 8 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 101 Owensville Rd., West River, MD on July 2, 2026 from 10-11:00 AM prior to a Funeral Mass which will be offered at 11 AM. Interment will follow onsite at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Cemetery. All are invited to celebrate John’s life in the church hall immediately following the burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to S.O.M.E. (So Others May Eat) and/or Meals on Wheels. S.O.M.E., 71 O Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 or, online at SOME.ORG. Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Attn: Development Office, 515 South Haven St., Baltimore, MD 21224 or, online at action.mealsonwheelsofamerica.org/donations. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.