Garland L. Kornell

Garland "Tony" Kornell, 88, of Owensboro died at his home Thursday, January 12, 2012. The youngest of eight children born to the late Halleck and Addie Mae McCoy Kornell, Tony attended Evansville Bosse High School before serving his country in the Army Air Corps in the World War II campaign to defeat Mussolini and the fascists. After the war, he worked at Servel Corporation where he rose in the ranks of union leadership. At Servel he met and later married his wife, Edna Lytle Kornell, of Owensboro. Together the Kornells created a happy business partnership as they not only operated A&W Root Beer franchises in Henderson and Owensboro, but also built the first state certified child care center in Kentucky, Wee People Day Care. They were the first to bring Colonel Sanders Kentucky Recipe Chicken to Owensboro, ran a gun shop plus an antique store. Always a welcoming, helpful neighbor, Mr. Kornell became involved in the local community as a friend of law enforcement and as an active member of Buena Vista Baptist Church where for years he presided over the church's Board of Trustees. In addition to his parents, brothers and sisters, he was preceded in death by his wife, Edna, and step-son Roy Nicely.

Surviving family members include his son, Gary (Miki) Kornell of Glen Carbon, IL; grandchildren Benjamin (Juliana) Kornell of Denver, Clarissa Kornell of Washington, DC, Daniel Kornell of Glen Carbon, and Teri (Greg) Robbins of Denver; great-grandchildren, Nicolas Kornell and Kyle Robbins. The family wishes to express deep affection to loyal friends, Bob and Dena Montgomery and family. Mr. Kornell's last months were made richer by the efforts of devoted caregivers, Flo Hendrick, Eloise Hicks, Gail Wiggs, Kathleen Leming, and Lisa Lee.

Services are 12 noon Saturday, January 14, 2012 in the chapel of Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with Rev. Jewel Pruitt officiating followed by burial in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday and after 11 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Buena Vista Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be left at www.glennfuneralhome.com.