Robert L. Goode Cornelius

Robert L. Goode Cornelius, 56, of La Grande, died Jan. 8 of natural causes at his home with his wife, Iva, at his side.

Robert was born Nov. 17, 1952, to Tom and Virginia Cornelius in Prescott, Ariz. Robert moved around a lot as a young man, but eventually ended up in La Grande, where he attended school and graduated from La Grande High School.

After high school, he joined the Navy, where he became an electronic technician. After 13 years in the Navy, he moved to Florida where he dabbled in carpentry work. He also drove truck for Mayflower Trucking moving furniture. He also moved pianos. He said that he once had Liberace ride with him in the truck while moving a piano for him.

Robert moved back to La Grande in 1982. In June 1983 on Father's Day Robert walked into Herman's Tavern where he met Iva Ross. The two began dating and soon after they moved in together. They were married in February 1994 in Union County.

Robert had a bad knee that kept him from being able to work. He began walking to keep his knee loosened up, and he found walking to be an activity and passion that he enjoyed most. Those who knew him say his walks were more like treasure hunts. He would stop and talk to people he knew, and many he didn't. He loved collecting cars.

Robert was a doting grandpa, and his grandchildren loved to hear the stories of how he found each treasure and he would always send them home with a little something special.

His stepchildren say that Robert treated them as if they were his own and that the best thing about him was that he loved their mom and made her happy for 25 wonderful years.

He is survived by his father, Tom Sr. of Huntington; brothers, Mike of La Grande, Curt of Montana and Tommy of La Grande; stepchildren, Coral of Portland, Randy of Oklahoma, Jeff of Idaho, Tom of Idaho, Diana of California and Bill of Idaho; 18 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparent Hornburgers, his brother Gregory and his mother Virginia.

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