Obituary of Nora Gwen Cornell Baldwin

Nora Gwen Cornell Baldwin, 93, of Harrisburg passed into the arms of the Lord on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Community Hospital South in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nora was born on March 29, 1931, on the family farm in Hardin County, Illinois. She was the ninth of ten children born to David and Rachel Joiner Cornell.
Nora married Bobby Ralph in December 1947, and to this union were born five children.
In 1969, she married the love of her life, Claude Baldwin. They enjoyed fifteen years of happy companionship before Claude passed away in 1984.
Her children and grandchildren have been the joy of her life. She was proud of each and every one of them.
In her early years, Nora was a good student, attending Stone Church School and Rosiclare High School, where she graduated at the top of her class. She lived for many years in northern Indiana and later moved back home to Hardin County. Nora took classes at Southeastern Illinois College and then began working as a secretary for the Family Counseling Center, where she worked for many years.
She was a member of Eastern Star, White Shrine, Rebekahs, and Amaranth. Nora was one of the founders of Anna Bixby Women’s Center, where she volunteered her time and later worked as a secretary and served on the board.
Nora was an avid reader and continued to read throughout her life. This love of reading led Nora to become a literacy volunteer. She taught many adults to read and volunteered in the Harrisburg school system. Nora was able to live independently until two years ago when she made her home with her youngest daughter, Lena and husband Robert.
At an early age, Nora professed faith in Christ and became a member of Union Social Brethren Church. She remained a faithful member until the time of her death, attending as her health allowed. She walked out her faith by always being willing to help others and teaching her children to do the same.
Having been raised during the Great Depression, Nora cooked wonderful meals from scratch, grew beautiful gardens, and preserved the harvests.
Like Dorcas in the Bible, she used her hands to sew for her family and others. Her specialty was quilt making. She pieced and hand quilted many beautiful quilts, one for each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Nora is survived by three daughters, Connie and Ron Potts of Parkersburg, WV, Melinda and Daniel Holtzclaw of Jackson, TN, and Lena and Robert Mayer of Harrisburg, IL; one son, Roger and LaDonna Ralph of Greenwood, IN; son-in-law Tom Lloyd of Mooresville, IN; two brothers, Archie Cornell of Elizabethtown and Wilburn Cornell of Dubuque, IA; one step-son, Larry and Jan Baldwin of Chester, IL; and 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and a host of dearly loved nieces and nephews.
Nora was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Claude; daughter, Judy Lloyd; sisters, Freda, Meredith, Vercie, Margie, and Cleoma Jean; brothers, Millard and Garcie; step-son, Richard Baldwin; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
The funeral service was held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Union Social Brethren Church. Rev. Bernie Cowgill conducted the service. Interment followed the service at Lavender Cemetery. The visitation was from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday at the church.
Visit alyfh.com to leave an online condolence for the family to cherish.
Memorials may be made to Union Social Brethren Church.

To purchase gifts and flowers locally, visit www.RosiclareFlowerBasket.net .