Robert Wayne Cornwell

Robert Wayne Cornwell of St. Peters, Missouri passed away on Saturday October 17, 2026 at the age of 99. Robert, known fondly as “Pa” for the past 50+ years, was born and raised in Cassoday, Kansas where he lived with five brothers and one sister. He and his siblings worked on their small farm and attended school in a one room schoolhouse. He joined the United States Marines near the end of World War II and proudly served his country in China and Japan.

After his military service he moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he met and married the love of his life, Mary Silence. They were married for 69 years before the Lord called Mary home. Robert worked hard to support his family as a Tool and Die Maker. After retirement he loved to travel and spend time with his grandchildren. Whether it was simply playing Walk the Dragon at the kitchen table, drawing pictures on whatever scrap paper he could find, or even sleigh riding down the giant hill in the backyard, he was always willing to participate. Although a quiet man, Robert had a great sense of humor, and his one-liners would often leave the family in stitches. He was the family handyman who could fix almost anything, from something small like fine tuning a watch to giant jobs like remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. He was always the one to call when help was needed. As an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals he rarely missed watching their games on television. He was a believer in Christ who faithfully served the Lord and attended church on a regular basis, often serving as a volunteer for his church family. No matter what life threw at him, he remained steadfast in his faith and was a true rock for his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his children, Charles, Rob, and Jill Cornwell and his son-in-law, Garland Brown. He is survived by his daughters, Gail Brown and Ellen (Bob) Parnas, 7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and one brother, Frank Cornwell.