David Howard Cordell

On Sunday, April 23, 2023, David Howard Cordell, loving husband, brother, father of four, and beloved grandfather of twelve passed away in Buford, Georgia at the age of 67, with his wife Cynthia (Cyndi) at his side, following a three-year battle with cancer.

David, the son of Thel Burton Cordell and Edna Bayne Sullivan, was born in 1955 in Huntington Park, California, the youngest of four children. Raised by both his father and mother, as well as his “second parents” Ken and Grace Williams, David enjoyed a childhood of outdoor mischief, camping, and trips to the beach while tormenting (and being tormented by) his three older sisters Nancy, Shirley, and Millie.  Following missionary service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Italy, David met and married his eternal love, Cynthia JoAnne Klenk, in 1978 in the Los Angeles, California LDS Temple.  They raised three sons, Jared, Donald, and James, and one daughter, JoAnne, building a family that would span three generations before his passing. 

A graduate of Bell High School in Southern California, David went on to study Economics at Cerritos Junior College and California State University, Dominguez Hills, graduating in 1984 and starting a career in printing ink sales.  A lifelong learner, David could read multiple books a week and passed along his passion for reading and obscure trivia to his children. 

Despite a love of West Coast sunshine, David’s career took this Southern California native to Oklahoma, Ontario Canada (twice), Illinois (twice), New Jersey, Indiana, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and Florida, before he finally returned to Southern California to help care for his mother- and father-in-law through their last years.  Knowing his life would not be complete without one more move, David and Cyndi relocated to Georgia months before his passing to be near their son James and his family.

Second only to David’s love for and commitment to his family was his faith, serving devotedly throughout his life in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  David’s time as the Bishop of the Round Lake Ward in Illinois was a spiritual highpoint as he served the families in his congregation.

As locational stability was never a Cordell strength, family get-togethers provided an opportunity to convene far-flung grown children, and an increasing brood of grandchildren, for evenings of conversation and laughter.  Never one to hide his opinions or shy away from a conversation, David’s dry humor and sarcasm ensured lively family gatherings with none spared from a loving barb or witty retort.  David’s humor only slightly masked his immense pride in his family, with conversations consistently turning to his children’s and grandchildren’s most recent accomplishments.  In his final years, David most looked forward to opportunities to hug and play with his grandchildren. 

For forty-five years David was accompanied by his best friend and loving wife, Cyndi, as they navigated life’s challenges and shared in its joys.  Never wavering, Cyndi remained by David’s side to the end, caring for him as cancer and Alzheimer’s slowly sapped him of his strength while savoring each blessing that came from their last moments together.  While David is now released from the challenges of this life, Cyndi looks forward to their eventual joyous reunion in the next life where he is now free from pain (but has resumed being a pain to those around him).

David was preceded in death by his father Thel, mother Edna, and sisters Nancy and Shirley.  He is survived by his wife Cyndi, sister Millie (Terry) Cangelosi, brother-in-law Bob McGlynn, children Jared (Stacey) Cordell, Donald (Kimberly) Cordell, James (Alie) Cordell, and JoAnne (Tyler) Wallo as well as 12 grandchildren (Cohen, Carter, Mariah, Landon, Claire, Lacey, Kailey, Elise, Kyra, Kian, Adeline, Janelle).  His funeral will occur on May 6 at the Flowery Branch, Georgia Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, followed immediately by his interment at Broadlawn Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Humanitarian Aid Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or the American Cancer Society. give. ChurchofJesusChrist.org/humanitarian-aid donate.cancer.org

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.