Charlie joined the Navy in Jan. 1945 in Harden, Montana and was honorably discharged after serving his country for 2 years. Charlie married and worked in the oil fields in Odessa, Texas until 1951 when he moved his family to Selah, WA. He then joined the Operating Engineers Local 302 and spent the next 45 years building roads, dams, and pipelines around the Northwest. He also worked in Alaska for companies like Pete-Kewitt, Good Fellows and Huston.
Charlie loved country music; he was a gifted musician and had a voice that God himself would listen to. He had many bands throughout his life, but said his best was with Cotton Roberts and Bill Holden back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. He and his wife Sami entertained around the country for the last 14 years. Charlie always found time to play music on the weekends and was a friend to all young musicians coming up. He belonged to the VFW, Eagles and the American Legion; he played many times in all 3 places.
When Charlie met Pastor Terry Dinsmore from Wiley Union Church he fell in love with him and has been a member of his clergy since 1995.
He is preceded in death by his brothers, Bob, Norm and RE; brother-in-law, Kip Ives and mother-in-law, Marjorie (Mom) Potte.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 40 years, Toniya (Sami) Cornelius; step-daughter, Natasha Kukulka of Yakima; his children, Tina (Richard) Ehlis of Yakima, Gina Cornelius of Colfax, WA, Sarah (Larrie) Restorff of Goldendale, WA, Mike (Karla) Cornelius of Spokane, WA, Charles Jr (Sheila) Cornelius of North Pole, AK, James (Dawn) Cornelius of Yakima, and Ken Cornelius of Spokane, WA; and his Arizona daughter Conra Marsh. He is also survived by his sister, Faye Ives; sisters-in-law, Ruby Cornelius, Janice McClain and 16 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 28, 2018 also at the funeral home. Concluding services will be held at West Hills Memorial Park. To share a memory of Charlie visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.
