Benjamin McBride Cornwell, Jr.

Benjamin McBride Cornwell, Jr. 93, passed away peacefully in the early morning of Saturday, April 26, 2025. He was born in Albion, Nebraska, on November 22, 1931, the son of Benjamin McBride Sr. and Nanny Lee Sebastian Cornwell. He grew up in Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and the mountains of western North Carolina and Virginia. Benjamin “Ben” graduated from Piney Creek High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI).

Ben was a Korean War veteran, serving his country in the Air Force following high school, from 1950 to 1954. The Air Force blessed him by introducing him to his wife of 63 years, Felicia Mohaupt. Ben married Felicia “Fel” in 1955 in Cape Cod where they were last stationed. The newlyweds relocated from Cape Cod to Virginia where they both attended VPI under the GI Bill. After graduation, Ben landed a position with Allis Chalmers (AC) Farm Equipment Division where he went on to build a 30-year career of success and service. He was well known to all who worked with him for his honesty, integrity, and unflagging devotion to stand for what’s right and go to battle for his team based on truth rather than company politics. With his rare combination of disarming humor, charm, and toughness he was known by his team as “The Gentle Bear.”

Ben and Fel’s life together found them moving from state to state with his many promotions. They lived in three trailer parks followed by eight homes in seven different states. After Ben retired, he moved back to Utah to help his son and partner start up a small company- Setpoint Systems Inc., which subsequently grew into an award winning “Inc. 500” company that created systems automation for manufacturers, and cutting-edge amusement park rides for clients such as Universal Studios and Disney. As the ‘old man’ at Setpoint, the next generation thought of Ben as ‘one special man’. He affected many Setpoint employees deeply on numerous occasions with his straightforward views, thoughts and unique humor. After his ‘second retirement’ from Setpoint, Ben cared for Felicia in her final years of home-hospice until she passed away on August 20, 2018.

Ben and Fel were avid fans of their two grandson’s sporting events throughout their school years - hockey, soccer, basketball. When not attending games, they enjoyed many cross-country trips in their RV. Ben liked nothing better than to stay in touch with his many friends and family along their routes. As years passed and he was unable to travel, he remained in touch and dedicated to friends and family by telephoning “Roll-Calls”. At the age of 93 he was still “calling roll” to his fellow high school classmates and AC employee friends.

Throughout his life, Ben’s strength and devotion to friends sprang from his faith in God and his certainty of his risen savior Jesus. During his deployment in the Air Force, he wrote letters to his mother and grandmothers, two to three times per week without fail. At age 20, in one letter to his grandma he consoled her upon learning of her mourning a relative, saying ‘Grandma, we know this world is not our home’. This young faith and realization set the tone for his life. Ben and Fel were active and generous patrons of the churches they attended, founding members of New Hope Reformed Church in Columbus, Ohio, and active fundraisers and patrons of the United Church of Christ Congregation in Ogden, where Ben started their annual fundraiser – the Holy Smoke Barbeque.

During his years of diminishing health, he loved to text out his “From the Pen of Ben” loving yet earthy words of wisdom and practical thoughts to his many friends. He kept his faith renewed by exploring the internet and his Pandora App to find old hymns and tunes and often sang the hymns and a few other favorite “diddies” in his last months while cruising the halls of the rehab facility and awaiting Physical Therapy. He often asked to visit his fellow Heritage Park Rehab “campers” with his sweet sheltie dog Andi exclaiming “Lets go spread some cheer”! He doggedly worked for eight months to be able to return home to spend his last Easter with his family. He was a warrior and stayed fully in the race until the very end.

Benjamin is survived by his daughter, Sara Elizabeth Cornwell of Tennessee; daughter-in-law, Kathleen Ann Cornwell of Ogden; two grandchildren, Walker (Kaela) Cornwell and Raleigh (Megan) Cornwell of Ogden; and two great-grandchildren, Ben Louis and Mille Jane (with one more boy Cornwell on the way); sister, Maude Bledsoe of North Carolina; eight nieces and nephews; cousins; and devoted friends too many to number. He was preceded in death by his wife, Felicia; son, Joseph M. Cornwell; and his parents.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Saturday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd., where military honors will be accorded. A reception will follow at the home of Kathy Cornwell in Ogden.

The Family would like to thank all of the many friends and family that visited Ben during the past many years after his wife and son’s passing. Your visits sustained and enriched his life greatly. Thank you Janet, Amelia and your families for the wonderful care for dad and Andi during his many years at home prior to his latest decline.  You brought the sunshine. We also greatly appreciate the fine people at Heritage Park Rehabilitation Center in Roy, especially Kellie, Bry, Cortney, Ashley, Ashton, and Sherrie, and the numerous CNAs and nurses, Dina, Olympia, Ignacio, Molly, and Sylvia, Angie, Jacqueline, Sarah, Celia, Sonny, Jorge and Matt, to name just a few, for their attentive care and unwavering belief in his ability to get home again, and for loving his dog Andi. Also, we feel deep enduring gratitude to Tammy Anderson “The Sargent’ for her years of in-home PT care and inspiration, and Molly Dabb Cramer for her ongoing home support, PT and 10,000 dice games on weekends at the rehab center. And finally special thanks to the devoted team from A-Plus Healthcare at Home, RN Brooke and FNP Jordan, and Wasatch Caregivers, Marta, Mandy, Melanie, Mickaela, Lou, Fernanda, John Felipe, Katy and Rudit, that made dad’s last days at home a special and blessed time for him.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Ben’s name to your favorite patriotic / veteran-supporting charity such as Tunnels to Towers, or to Roads to Independence, Ogden, Utah (supplier of equipment required to bring dad home) or Heritage Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Roy, Utah.

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Ben’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com where condolences may also be shared.

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