Howard Eugene “Gene” Cornelius was born May 30, 1921 in Clarendon, Texas to Roy and Thelma (Clayton) Cornelius and raised in the Texas Panhandle, graduating from Lubbock High School in 1940.
Gene voluntarily enlisted as a Private in the U. S. Army Air Corps two weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, reporting for duty December 31, 1941. He attained the rank of T/Sgt. He served as a Flight Engineer on a Troop Carrier (paratrooper) in the 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron with the 82nd Airborn Division, serving first in North Africa, where they jumped troops in the invasions of Sicily and Italy, then in Great Britain. He served in the combined All-Airborn division of U.S. and British Airborn and was involved in drops of both U.S. and British troops in the invasions France and Holland, about which Cornelius Ryan wrote the book “A Bridge too Far.” Gene returned home to the States to rejoin his family in January 1945. Gene married Dora Oleta “Leta” Marshall on July 14, 1942. To this loving union were born four children: Bobby Eugene (Bob), Martha Ann, Jerry Mac, and Mary Katherine (Kathy).
After his discharge from the Army Gene entered Texas Tech University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry in 1953. He worked in the field of agriculture through various Feed and Seed companies throughout his career retiring in 1985. From 1958 to 1960 Gene co-owned and operated a chicken farm in Hamilton, which became the family’s “adopted hometown.” He and Leta retired there in 1985 where, within the span of a few months, Leta was diagnosed and died after a brief battle with cancer.
Gene married JoAnn Baker in 1987 and moved to the small Texas community of Yorktown where he lived until his passing on December 14, 2014, at the age of 93 years.
Gene was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors and his happiest days were spent camping and enjoying this great Country.
Gene was preceded in death by his brother, Billie Cornelius, his parents, Roy and Thelma Cornelius, wife Leta Marshall Cornelius, son-in-law Dwight Landua, brother-in-law Bill Whitworth, grandsons-in-law Damon Battle and Matthew Knapp, great-grandchildren Brittany Battle and Brody Knapp and step-son-in-law John Gladder.
Mr. Cornelius is survived by his wife, JoAnn Cornelius of Yorktown, Texas; children Bob Cornelius and wife Shellie of Kemp, Texas; Martha Landua of Durant, Oklahoma; Jerry Cornelius and wife Joan of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Kathy Payne and husband Rick of Hamilton, Texas. “Gran’dad” is survived by 16 grandchildren –29 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters, Mary Whitworth of Austin, Texas; and Georgia Musil and husband Joe of Lubbock, Texas, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
Surviving “Mr. C” in JoAnn’s family — daughters Carla Baker and husband Aaron O’Neal of Houston, Texas, Ginger Baker and husband Tom Copeland of Dale, Texas, and Dusty Baker of Lockhardt, Texas; 2 grandchildren – Commander Gene Cran and wife Kimberly of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Dr. Karisha Madden and husband Rory of Houston, Texas; and 3 great-grandchildren.
Services for H. E. (Gene) Cornelius will be held on Friday, December 19, 2014 at Hamilton’s First Presbyterian Church beginning at 10:30 AM. Presiding will be grandson-in-law, Pastor Ryan Jones. A military graveside service will follow at the Oakwood Cemetery. Serving as Pallbearers are Tye Adams, Gene Cran, Austin Faux, Jeremy Lack, Robert Turner, and Dave Wilson.
A memorial service will be planned in Yorktown at a later date.
Memorials can be made to Keep Yorktown Beautiful.
