Laura Lee Cornwall

Laura Lee Cornwall (Green) Laura passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital with her family by her side on December 25, 2012 after a five year struggle against ovarian cancer. She was born in Alhambra, CA on November 12, 1948 to John and Inez Green and was the oldest of four children. Laura graduated from Temple City High School in 1966 where she was on the swim team and a member of the Mariner Girl Scouts with annual week long sailing trips to Catalina Island, a place she loved to visit. Laura attended U.C. Santa Barbara for two years but decided to serve her country and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. She found boot camp fun and challenging but enjoyed working in Data Processing at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina back when computers needed large, air-conditioned, dust-free rooms. All of her spare time was spent at the base stables where she perfected her horse riding skills. She eventually purchased her first horse from the riding string. Unable to take her horse with her after she left the Marines, she sold him to the base chaplain and his family. After an honorable discharge Laura started to work for the U.S. Postal Service in San Gabriel, CA in 1972 as a letter carrier, a profession she had desired since a little girl as her dad, John, was also a letter carrier in the same office. As her maternal grandfather was a railway clerk for the Post Office, it was a family tradition. It is there she met her husband, Bruce, her one true love who cared for her through her long illness. He was her rock. She continued her education on the GI Bill and graduated from C.S.U. Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in History, taking classes at night. She and Bruce loved to travel with trips to the Yucatan, Alaska, Canada, Baja and Hawaii. Laura loved to try anything she found interesting and challenging. She loved fishing with Bruce for anything that would fight as 99% were photographed and released. She enjoyed photography and was totally into gardening as her yard shows her work. She truly loved her two horses, Rhea, a pinto mare she bought before starting with the Post Office and Louie, a Standardbred gelding she and Bruce bought at a sale at Hollywood Park in 1980. A good home was provided for them until they passed away from old age. She competed in Endurance Racing and Competitive Trail riding for many years, amassing numerous ribbons. Bruce, Laura and the horses moved to Chattaroy in August of 1992 after Bruce retired. Laura was able to get a transfer and continued her postal career as a letter carrier for another eleven years in Spokane until she retired in 2003 with 31 years of service. After retirement, fishing and seeing the country was at the top of the list for them with trips to British Columbia and Alberta. A pair of mountain bikes made for trips along the bike trails of Washington and Idaho with the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes her favorite. Laura is survived by her husband, Bruce, her sisters Heidi (Dudley) from Show Low, AZ, Joane (Rick) from Riverside, CA; her brother Larry (Lori) from Show Low, AZ; her six nieces and nephews, Jim, Steven, Carrie, Tracey, Dan and Justin. She is also survived by her two stepdaughters Linda and Robbin. She was predeceased by her parents John and Inez Green. We want to thank all the caregivers at Northwest Cancer Care, north office, including Dr. Sienko and Andrea. A memorial service will be held at RIPLINGER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 4305 N. DIVISION, SPOKANE, WA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at www.ocrf.org/donate.