Viola Lou Cornelius, age 91, of Salado, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2017. The family will receive friends for visitation from
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Friday
evening at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton. Graveside services will be at San Geronimo Cemetery in Seguin, Texas at
2:00 p.m
Saturday
. A memorial celebration will be held at First Baptist Church of Belton at a future date.
Mrs. Cornelius was born in Kingsbury, Texas on August 23, 1925, the daughter of Charles and Estelle Govett. She was a graduate of Seguin High School in 1943 and Howard Payne College in 1947. She met Wayne Cornelius in August of her senior year of college when he returned to Howard Payne from the Pacific after WWII. They were married May 27, 1947.
She taught in the public schools of Texas for 21 years, teaching in May, Robinson, Chilton, Van Vleck, and Rogers. She loved classroom teaching but also devoted numerous hours to coaching UIL literary events, producing numerous state medalists and champions. In her last six years of teaching, she took on the new challenge of coaching UIL One-Act Plays, taking three of those plays to the state level. She retired from the public schools in 1980 but in her retirement years took up a new “profession.” She became a beloved Meemaw to her grandchildren, playing a very active role in their lives. Whether it was going on field trips, attending sporting events or concerts, watching church or school programs, proofing essays, helping them prep for their UIL events, or having sleepovers at her house, she was there. She lived out her faith in a very active way and was a member of First Baptist Church in Belton .
She is survived by her daughter Suzanne Akins and husband Rick of Salado; her daughter Nancy Gunter and husband Mike of Salado; seven grandchildren, Adrienne Akins Warfield and husband Brad of Fletcher, NC, Meredith Akins Allen and husband Dustin of Brighton, CO, Glynis Akins Clark and husband Daniel of Belton, Michael Gunter and wife Heather of Belton, Matt Gunter and wife Laci of Salado, John Mark Gunter and wife Casey of Dallas, and Marissa Gunter Smith and husband Trevor of Salado; three great-grandchildren, Owen and Addison Gunter of Salado, and Eveline Gunter of Belton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Wayne Cornelius, two grandchildren, Mason Taylor Gunter and Nancy Alissa Akins, and one great-grandchild, Easton Michael Gunter.
Memorials may be made to Howard Payne University, 1000 Fisk Street, Brownwood, TX 76801; Zambia Mission, PO Box 3393, Abilene, TX 79604; or Compassion International at
www.compassion.com/donate.htm
.
