John Wayne Cornelius

John Wayne Cornelius of Midland, Texas passed away peacefully at his home December 17, 2014. John was born August 15, 1953, in Liberty, Texas to Welton Ray Cornelius and Pauline Herndon Cornelius. Shortly after graduating from high school in Liberty, Texas, John proudly served for 3 years in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1975, having achieved the rank of Sgt. Upon returning to the Houston, Texas area, John attended Community College of the Air Force and Lee College in Baytown, Texas. In years following Lee College, John attended and completed numerous technical, electronic and communications classes. His studies and following career were in the electronics and communications fields. John’s work took him to all 4 regions of the State of Texas and a few years in New Mexico, and California working as head technical and communications engineer for major companies holding contracts for computer technical support for major medical centers and governmental entities including the IRS and SSA. As a young man, John was always building things or fixing things, anything mechanical or electronic, a trait and art he continued to do all his life. He loved taking things apart and then putting them back together, sometimes better, he would proudly claim. John’s passion away from work was his love of motorcycles. He could speak “motorcycle” anything for hours on end. He loved guns and knives and as some would say, he was very knowledgeable about them. He would spend hours cleaning his guns, even if they didn’t need cleaning. He loved camping and fishing or just riding in his canoe or small boat down a quiet river with his dog. John had a joke for everyone and always quick with one. His humor endured to the very end. John also had great love for his cats and dogs over the years. His special dog, Rosa, never left his side and waited patiently by the window every day until his ‘master’ came home. John shared a special bond with his dog, Rosa or as he would sometimes refer to her as, “pup-pup”. John married Teresa Selvera in Isleta Pueblo, a small Indian village between Albuquerque and Los Lunas, New Mexico . John is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Teresa Cornelius, of Midland, Texas, his beloved and treasured son, John Ray Cornelius and his wife, Destiny and his two cherished grandchildren, Nevaeh Marie Cornelius and Arabella Raye Cornelius, all of Midland, Texas. John is also survived by his brother, Charles Cornelius and wife, Kathy Cornelius of Alvin, Texas, his sister, Jolene Cornelius White and husband, Alan White of Houston, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Welton Ray Cornelius and his mother, Pauline Cornelius. Memorial Services will held at the American Heritage Cemetery and Funeral Home at 4100 N. FM 1788, Midland, Texas (north off Hwy. 191) on Tuesday, December 23, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a cancer society of your choice or any local pet shelter. On line condolences may be made at tc79701@yahoo.com.

Tributes

John Wayne Cornelius

August 15, 1953 - December 17, 2014