Cris Cornell

Cris Cornell passed away late Sunday night, March 7, 2021, at 66 years of age. He left us peacefully, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was an extraordinary leader, husband, father, brother, son, friend, and “Gampy”. He was a man full of wisdom, an entrepreneur, and a dreamer.

Cris was born at the Ohio State University Hospital during a home Buckeyes game in 1954 and became an avid lifelong fan of Buckeye sports. In 2019, one of Cris’s companies, “All Wood Lockers” was awarded Ohio Small Business Spotlight at halftime of a home OSU football game.

A native of Newcomerstown, OH, Cris attended Denison University and graduated with a degree in Economics. He began working with his father and eventually took over the family business, Groovfold, Inc. in 1977. He was a jack-of-all-trades, an innovator, and could fix anything. Cris went on to develop two other businesses along with Groovfold: All Wood Lockers and Wood Closet Designs. Groovfold recently celebrated its 58th year of production, and Cris couldn’t have been more proud for his sons to take Groovfold over, continuing the family business.

Cris served our community as a member of the New Philadelphia School Board, Tuscarawas County Public Defenders Board, was involved in the First United Methodist Church, and was a coach for community youth sports for many years.

Cris cherished time with his family relaxing before a roaring fire in the winter and having a cold Bud Light at the pool during summer. He enjoyed snow skiing, hiking, bicycling the Tow Path trail, boating at Atwood Lake, vacations, reading, playing pool, listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival, and hours of creative introspection mowing his yard.

Cris is preceded in death by his mother, Joan Bellows Cornell and his father, Richard Ross Cornell. Cris is survived by his loving wife and partner in life, Julie Cornell (Houglan), celebrating 31 years of marriage in February; his two daughters Alexandra (Akhil) and Jacqueline (Caleb); his two sons Michael (Preston) and Andrew (Cheyenne); and two beautiful granddaughters Emerson and Amelia, whom he adored and loved with all his heart. Cris is also survived by one sister Susan (Tim) Meager and two brothers Richard (Linda) Cornell and Jeff Cornell.

Visitation will be held in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover on Friday, March 12, 2021 from 5 to 7 p.m. A service celebrating Cris’ life will be held Saturday, March 13 beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia. Inurnment will follow at a later date. All guests are required to wear a mask to enter the funeral home and church.

Memorial contributions in Cris’ memory may be directed to The Quaker Foundation, PO Box 627, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.

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