John Cornwell Obituary – Dunbar, WV

About

John Cornwell Ailes, Jr., age 80, died peacefully at his residence in Nitro, WV, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on March 8, 1944, in Parkersburg, WV, John was raised in Romney, WV. He was a proud graduate of Romney High School, and later earned a B.S. degree from West Virginia University in 1970.

John embarked on a distinguished career in public service starting in 1971, when he became a Reclamation Inspector for the WV Department of Natural Resources, a position he held until 1977. He advanced to Assistant Chief of Inspection and Enforcement for the Division of Reclamation from 1978 to 1984. His commitment to environmental stewardship continued as he took on the role of Energy Administrator for the Division of Mines and Minerals at the WV Department of Environmental Protection from 1985 to 2001. John’s career culminated as the Chief of the Office of Mining and Reclamation from 1992 to 2001, and he concluded his professional journey as the Special Assistant to the Secretary for Mining Affairs at WV DEP from 2001 to 2003.