Obituary of Cornelia Harvey Wynn

Cornelia Grace Harvey (Connie) was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 1937 to the parents

of James H. Harvey II and Cornelia G. Harvey. Connie was the youngest of four children living

in a rural home in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania.

Her early years were peppered with so many memories of adventure and mischief with her siblings. 

In the early 50’s Connie met and married Melvin Samuel Wynn. Together the couple had 4 children:

Karen Eileen, Melvin Earl, Diane Elizabeth and Brian Charles.

Raising four children through the 60’s and 70’s was not her sole charge as feeding four children required

a dual income household.

The family moved to Northern Virginia in the early 70’s and Connie immediately found a job in Washington DC

with the National Council of Senior Citizens. Connie had an amazing talent of walking into an entry level position

and working herself up the ladder through sheer determination, brains and an impeccable work ethic. While she

held several roles through the years, she was most proud of her work as a Director for the National Council of

Senior Citizens, Director of HR services for Rohr Aerospace, and Sr. Manager with the Salvation Army.

Connie shared a love of many things, to include all things green and nature. She enjoyed

gardening and especially loved to grow flowers and watch vegetables grow. Connie had a

youthful curiosity that sometimes landed her in precarious situations. Seeing what she thought

was a wild onion in her yard, she plucked it and chewed on the wild plant. An hour later, her

tongue was numb! Cooking was also a favourite hobby, and her apple pies and pound cakes were

requested for every family gathering. She even ventured into several years of catering part time.

Connie was an avid reader of anything, often consuming two or more paperbacks in a day. All of

that reading also positioned her to be very vocal about everything, politics, women’s rights, and

the well-being and future for her children. She protected her children like a mother bear watches

over her cubs. She was tough as a mom but if anything, or anyone came towards any of her

children, the 5’4” outgoing friendly lady instantly became “Shero of Pennsylvania”! Yet she

loved people, she loved entertaining, she loved giving a helping hand to anyone and she loved to

talk!

Connie is survived by her brother Lt. Col. James H. Harvey III, sister, Dorothy H. Jones, her four

children, Karen Wynn (Eupton), Melvin Wynn (Jayne), Diane Smith (Lanor) and Brian Wynn

(Katie), a dear sister-in-law Adrienne Harvey, six grandchildren, two great grandchildren, a large

extended family and many friends to include three grand dogs.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23