NWA Capt. Raymond J. 'Jack' Cornforth

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, NWA Capt. Raymond J. 'Jack' Cornforth

May 29, 1925 ~ June 25, 2023

 

 

https://m.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/0000462590/?fullname=raymond-j-jack-cornforth

Raymond J. 'Jack' Cornforth, age 98

Cornforth, Raymond J. "Jack"

Jack took his last flight and left our world very peacefully on

Sunday June 25th while surrounded with loving family and friends. Jack came from a very

small town in Oklahoma and his love of flying was initially sparked by a couple of $1 airplane

rides at the local fair with a kind man and his crop duster airplane. At age 17 He joined the

Army Air Corps and started basic training Spring of 1943. Besides learning to be a mechanic,

he trained as a P-40 Warhawk Fighter Pilot and graduated in April of 1945 as a Commissioned

Officer Rank of 2nd Lieutenant. After packing parachutes and working as an aircraft mechanic

he and a coworker heard there were aircraft mechanics jobs in St Paul, Minnesota so off they

went. Jack was hired by Northwest Orient Airlines on February 9, 1948. He worked there for

44 years as a Mechanic, Crew Chief, Flight Engineer, Co Pilot and Captain. He is our real life

Captain Jack! Rules mandated that he had to retire from Captain on the Boeing 727 at age 60

in 1985. He was eligible to move up to the Big 747 and spent the last 7 years of his career in the

2nd Officer position flying the Jumbo Jet all over the world. Since the 747 was mainly used for

international travel, Jack also had the unique opportunity to become a Colonel as a member of

the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. CRAF is part of the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense that

contracts with selected airlines. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of flying for the military while

working at Northwest Airlines and transported military troops and supplies from all over the

United States to Bases in Germany, Kuwait and Iraq during Desert Shield and Desert Storm on

the NWA 747. Our Dad Jack was always busy with family, kids, camping, traveling, enjoying the

lake with his neighbors, longtime friends, and new friends. Many of them quite often seemed to

end their visit with a game of cribbage or four. Jack was always ready to help join in with work

or fun and always made it more enjoyable with his gentle smile and great laugh. He was an

active member with his church for 69 years, a 73-year Mason, a 65-year American Legion

Member honored as a Three- time Past Commander and 30 years as the Post Chaplain for

Legion #493. Jack and Betty met in Washington D.C. when he had transferred there for work

with NWA. They eloped in Maryland in 1950 and after several transfers back and forth from

Washington D.C. to Holman Field in St Paul they finally settled in Minnesota for the remainder

of their lives. Minneapolis - St Paul International Airport became his home base. In 1973 Dad

finally found his dream home on the lake and they decided this would be their retirement

home. Dad lived there enjoying the lake life for 50 years until this June taking his last ride on

his beloved pontoon with family on June 11th. Jack was loved and respected by young and old,

with countless friends and everyone that met Jack just loved him from the moment they met

him. He had an easy, gentle, and classy way about him. A true southern gentleman. Always had

time to help someone out, take time to sit down and talk and genuinely made you feel so

special when you were with him. Preceded in Death by his wife, Betty, the love of his life for 73

years; His parents Margaret and Charles Cornforth; His Brother Donald Cornforth and his 1st

Favorite Son-in law, Lee Bell. Jack is survived by his two children: Ray (Linda) Cornforth and

Kathy Bell (John Hepola) Grandkids: Doug (Ashley) Cornforth; Tony (Rachel) Bell; Nickie

(Matt) Petite; Brett (Namrata) Cornforth; Sara (Carlos) Zumbado; RJ Cornforth; Mike (Ashley)

Cornforth; 12 Great-Grandchildren and many extended family and treasured friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 10 4PM to 8PM with a 7pm Masonic Rites Service &

Prayers at The Cremation Society of Minnesota 7110 France Ave. So. Edina. MN 55435 952-

924-4100. A Celebration of Jack's Life will be held on Tuesday. July 11 at 10:00 AM - Visitation

30 minutes prior at Portland Avenue United Methodist Church 8000 Portland Avenue So

Bloomington, MN 55420 952-888-6070 11:00 AM Luncheon. Funeral Procession to Depart

from Church at 12:15 to arrive at Cemetery by 12:40 required time before burial service. Jack

will receive Full Cemetery Honors Tuesday, July 11 at 1:00 PM Fort Snelling National

Cemetery 7601 34th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55450. Dad, you are forever free to soar in the

beautiful skies. Forever free to float upon calm waters.

…………………………………………….

https://www.postbulletin.com/obituaries/kathryn-e-betty-cornforth-prior-lake 

Kathryn E. "Betty" Cornforth, at the age of 95, left our world very peacefully Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, while surrounded by her loving family. She was a longtime resident of Prior Lake.

 

Born on July 9, 1919, in Newport News, Va., to William and Katheryn. Betty put herself through nursing school at Georgetown University and worked as an emergency nurse for the construction crew that built the Pentagon. She was so well liked by the construction crew they recommended her to be hired as a RN for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, where she worked for more than 10 years.

 

Betty and Jack eloped in 1950 and Jack's job transferred them to the Twin Cities where they put down their roots. Just before she left Washington D.C., Betty was being considered for the RN position at the White House. After raising two kids, she returned to work as a RN at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. In the '70s, her compassion and love for helping others brought her back to work as a RN for the Minnesota Masonic Home. This is where she spent her final days under their loving and tender care……………………………………….