Howard Eugene Cornelius

May 30, 1921 – December 14, 2014

Howard Eugene “Gene” Cornelius was born May 30, 1921 in Clarendon, Texas to Roy & 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 called the “Allied Airborn Command” 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 earned the following medals during his military career: Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, American Theater Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct Medal, and the EAME Campaign Medal with 5 Bronze Stars. Gene kept meticulous records of his flying time, which indicated that he logged a total of 875 hours and 10 minutes while serving in WWII in the European Theater. Gene returned home to the States to rejoin his family in January 1945. He was honorably discharged on September 3, 1945. After his enlistment, on leave after his Basic Training, and prior to his deployment, 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 with the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish & Wildlife Service, then in the field of agriculture through various Feed and Seed companies throughout his career (including Red Chain and DeKalb), retiring in 1985 from Anderson Clayton Company / Paymaster Feed & Seed Division. During these years the family frequently moved, living in Colorado at one time and in several Texas towns and cities including Midland, Odessa, Sherman, Austin, Hamilton, Plainview and Victoria. 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 6 ½ months.

Gene was a patriot and instilled that love of the USA in his children and grandchildren, whom he loved with all his heart. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors and his happiest days were spent camping and enjoying this great Country. When his children were very small he convinced them that the flags flew on May 30th because it was his birthday; and they believed that until they went to school and learned the fact that May 30th is, in truth, the Memorial Day holiday! His children also remember while growing up that Dad’s favorite place to travel was to Colorado to trout fish…just the thing teenagers loved to do each summer! In truth, everyone had great times on those vacations camping at the timber line in log cabins with wood stoves for warmth/cooking. In later years his married children and their children would accompany Gran’dad and Gran’mom on these Colorado trips, which were well-documented with his ever-present camera. Gene was a very organized and meticulous person as was evidenced in part by his thousands of photo slides--painstakingly cataloged--and his written daily entries in a pocket notebook during his service in WW II.

Gene was preceded in death by his brother, Billie Cornelius, his parents, Roy & 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 – Debbie Lack and husband Jeff of Dallas, Texas, Cristi Foreman and husband Brad of Plano, Texas, Leigh Anne Jones and husband Ryan of Willis, Texas, Paula Brumley of Durant, Oklahoma, Pamela Silvestri and husband Curt of Mesa, Arizona, Paige Poppe of Durant, Oklahoma, Dayna Lee Cornelius and partner Tiffany Lee of Lake Forest, California, Denise Wilson and husband Dave of Forney, Texas, Renee Knapp of Sachse, Texas, Nina Cornelius of Stephenville, Texas, Jennifer O’Henley and husband Rick of Ft. Worth, Texas, Lisa Battle of Ft. Worth, Texas, Staff Sgt. USAF Michael Faux of Milden Hall AFB, England, Tye Adams and wife Hannah of Springtown, Texas, Breanne Turner and husband Robert of Copperas Cove, Texas, and Kristen Payne of Hamilton, Texas; 29 great-grandchildren – Jacob & Jeremy Lack, Charlie & Piper Foreman, Maddox, Abram & Eli Jones, Eric & Landon Brumley, Josh Silvestri, Alex Poppe, Lauren & Alyssa Dunlap, Melanie, Bryan & Brett Wilson, Rowan & Lily Knapp, Blake O’Henley, Austin Faux, Breanne & Aaron Battle, Brenden & Katelyn Faux, Blade & Tate Adams, Emmey & Easton Turner, and Auden Martinez; and 2 great-great-grandchildren – Aubrey Silvestri and Cohen Seaman.

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 2 great-grandchildren – Sam & Leah Cran. Also surviving are sisters, Mary Whitworth of Austin, Texas; and Georgia Musil and husband Joe of Lubbock, Texas, plus numerous nieces and nephews who all loved their Uncle Gene.

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.