John Michael Cornwall's Obituary
John Michael Cornwall, 89, of Dallas, Texas, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025. A dedicated follower of Jesus, accomplished businessman and community leader, greatly beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend. Mike lived a life of service motivated by his love for his Lord Jesus Christ, sharing his faith with others around the world and through his active involvement in his church and his native Dallas community.
Born in Dallas, Texas on October 5, 1935, Mike was the son of Mattie Lee Parks Cornwall and John Vincent Cornwall. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and was a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, Class of 1957, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. While at Texas A&M, Mike was the Drum Major for the White Band of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. Mike was a second generation Aggie and two more generations in the family have proudly followed in his footsteps as Aggies. Upon graduation from Texas A&M, Mike was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant where he was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky as a Tank Unit Commander.
Mike married the love of his life, Sharon Lynne Holloway Cornwall, on June 21, 1958. Together they welcomed and raised two daughters, Deborah and Michele, who are forever “Daddy’s girls” with great love and respect for their father. Mike had a long and prolific business career in the savings and loan and banking industries in Dallas beginning at Oak Cliff Savings in 1959. Among Mike’s many positions, he served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Texas Savings Association, President and Chief Operating Officer of Guaranty Federal Savings Bank, and President of the Retail Bank of Guaranty Federal Bank, all of Dallas. Mike furthered his education with post-graduate work at the following universities: Indiana University, University of Georgia, University of Southern California, and Southern Methodist University.
Mike’s love for his Lord Jesus led him to take numerous leadership positions in his local church and with parachurch ministries that have a global impact, generously giving of his time, talents, and treasure. Mike served on the Board of Elders of Fellowship Bible Church North of Plano (now known as Chase Oaks Church) for thirty-four years while also serving with his wife Sharon leading home group Bible studies and teaching English as a Second Language to Chinese university students and professors while introducing them to the love of God in the Bible. Mike further served on the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Finance Committee of The Navigators for twenty-seven years. He also served on the Board of Directors of these Christian organizations: Kiev Theological Seminary in Kiev, Ukraine, Dallas Center for Church Renewal, and Center for Church-Based Training. He also was the founder of Aggie Christian Fellowship of Dallas.
As a couple, Mike and Sharon took twelve trips to Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus with Campus Crusade for Christ and The Navigators’ International School Project teaching Bible-based curriculum about ethics and morality to school teachers and administrators. They both have a deep and enduring love for the people of these countries. They also traveled with Josh McDowell Ministries sharing the Gospel of Jesus in prisons, hospitals, and orphanages.
Mike was a lifelong resident of Dallas and faithfully supported his community through active civic engagement over many decades. He was an adjunct professor in the College of Business Administration at the University of Texas at Arlington and served on the Board of Directors of these organizations: The Dallas Opera, Dallas Youth Services Corps, Federal Home Loan Bank, and Crossroads Community Center (now Martin Luther King Community Center, City of Dallas) and was also the Chairman of the Building Committee. Additionally, Mike was the President of the Dallas Chapter of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, a member of the Urban Rehabilitation Standards Board of the City of Dallas for two terms, member of the Cotton Bowl Council, member of the Thrift Institution Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C., Chairman of the Texas Savings & Loan League, and member of the Thesis Review Board for the Graduate School of Savings and Loan at Indiana University.
Mike is survived by his faithful and loving wife of sixty-seven years, Sharon of Dallas, Texas; blessed daughters Deborah Cornwall Coburn and husband Jeff of The Woodlands, Texas and Michele Cornwall DeLillo and husband Bob of Keller, Texas; grandchildren Kristin Coburn Bronaugh and husband Bert of Bryan, Texas, Michael James and wife Jessica of Midland, Texas, Jessica Coburn Manson and husband Greg of Harahan, Louisiana, and Luke James of Texas; adopted granddaughter Kathryn Arnett Lawson of Richardson, Texas; great-grandchildren Emmie James, Mack James, Brody James, Carter Bronaugh, Gus James, James Bronaugh, Bear James, Daniel Bronaugh, and Kalina James; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Beverly and Gaylon Anderson of Plano, Texas; nieces Melissa Anderson McFarlane and husband Robert with children Jordan, Jackson, and Harper of Dallas, Texas and Jennifer Anderson Hewett and husband Greg with children Madeline and Emma of Plano, Texas; and cousins Mary Anne Cornwall Rhodes of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Patsy Cummings of Valencia, California.
The family wishes to gratefully thank the staff and administrators of Signature Pointe on the Lake Healthcare Community, Bristol Hospice, and Homage Hospice for their care of Mike for over two years.
The funeral service for Mike Cornwall, officiated by Dr. Gene A. Getz, will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 2pm at Restland Funeral Home Memorial Chapel at 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas TX 75243.
Please use link below to watch live stream of John's service
https://youtube.com/live/uzWKuurUzjc?feature=share
Donations in memory of J. Michael Cornwall may be made to the Center for Church Renewal at 241 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75023 or to The Navigators at PO Box 50740, Colorado Springs, CO 80949-0740.
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