Born in Ohio on July 30, 1923 to Steubenville, Ohio. Skip had three brothers (Louis, Earl, and Charlie) and one sister (Boots). His mother, Ruth, died when Skip was five. Due to the difficult economic times he often had to go to foster homes. This led him to attend 12 high schools as he went from foster home to foster home. Less than two months after Pearl Harbor Skip enlisted in the Navy at the age of 19. While in the Navy Skip served in the Atlantic, Pacific, and African theaters. He was partially disabled due to an injury received during his service to our country.
Upon being discharged from the Navy in 1946 Skip worked for a steel company before attending art school in New York. He became an art director for major advertising firms such as Grant Advertising and Dancer-Fitgzerald-Sample. While at DFS Skip worked on the General Mills account and is credited with creating the Trix rabbit. In addition to his work with the advertising agencies, in the early 1960s Skip worked as a flying traffic reporter for New York’s WOR radio. Skip was only the second traffic reporter in the station’s history. In 1968, Skip relocated to San Francisco where he headed the Chevron Oil account for advertising agency, BBDO.
After retiring from BBDO Skip painted privately. His specialties were western themes and seascapes, with his paintings hanging in the Pentagon and the Air Force Academy. Skip is a member of the Society of Illustrators.
In 1945 Skip married Lillian Bernice Cornwell. Lillian, died on September 4, 2010 of Alzheimer’s disease. Her health deteriorated quickly after Skip died in January. Lillian, a native of Indiana was born on November 15, 1921 to Effie O’Neal Cornwell, and William Cornwell. She had an older brother, Webster. After attending Hammond High School in Indiana Lillian attended Indiana University before entering the WAVES in 1942. Lillian received training in Oklahoma and served in New York, Washington, DC.
After raising their son, Dean, Lillian returned to college and received her BA in English from CW Post College, with highest honors in 1964. Lillian then went into teaching elementary school in New Jersey and Pleasant Hill, California before retiring in 1984.
In 1984 Skip and Lil retired to Camarillo, California. During their retirement they traveled extensively, visiting all seven continents and being one of the earliest Americans to tour China.
Skip and Lil are survived by their son, Dean, their grandchildren Erin and Patrick, and their great granddaughter, Elizabeth. Two of Skip’s brothers, Louis and Charlie, also survive Skip.
A memorial service is scheduled for December 19 and burial will be at Riverside National Cemetery on December 20.
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