Raised in Douglas County, near Seymour Herbert Allen Cornelius, son of Luther Leslie and Louise Katherine Peters Cornelius, was born May 4, 1929, in Glidden, Iowa. He departed this life Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, in his home, in Seymour, at the age of 78.
His parents preceded him in death.
Herb is survived by four sons, John Cornelius, of Fort Worth, Texas, James Cornelius, of Lakefield, Minn., David Cornelius, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Daniel Cornelius, of Homer, Alaska; one daughter, Loretta Cornelius, of Minneapolis, Minn.; a number of grandchildren; two brothers, Leslie Cornelius Jr., of Seymour, and Howard Cornelius, and his wife, Mary Lou, of Fort Worth, Texas; three sisters, Lois Goss and her husband, Herbert, of Fort Worth, Texas, Donna Embrey and her husband, Charles, and Lil Norris and her husband, Joel, all of Seymour; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born in Iowa and raised in Douglas County, near Seymour, and graduated from Seymour High School in the class of 1946. In 1947 he entered the United States Army where he served his country faithfully until retiring in 1978.
Herb had made his profession of faith in Christ and was a member of the Seymour First Baptist Church.
Herb was a 32nd Degree Mason and past master of the Hazlewood Masonic Lodge #459 A.F. & A.M. of Seymour, where he had served as the education officer. He was a Shriner with the Valley of Joplin Scottish Rite and was a member of the York Rite with the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple in Springfield. He belonged to the Past Masters Unit and the Legion of Honor Ridge Runners Scottish Rite Club. He had also sponsored several children receiving care at the Shriners Children’s Hospitals.
He was a past worthy patron of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter #144 of Seymour, where he was presently serving as chaplain. He had received an appointment to the Grand Chapter of Eastern Star in 1997. He also was a longtime active member of the Seymour Lions Club and had received the Good Citizen of Seymour Award in 1997. He was also a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 1502, Wilson-Alexander American Legion Post 306, the Disabled American Veterans Orlan Smith Chapter, and was an active member of the Webster County Veterans Memorial Association.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, in Holman-Howe Chapel, of Seymour with burial in Seymour Masonic Cemetery with full military honors, by the Fort Leonard Wood Honors Team and the Webster County Memorial Veterans Association. A memorial has been established to Seymour Senior Center and may be made through the funeral home in Seymour.
