Thomas Earl Cornelius

Thomas Earl Cornelius Jr., 75, formerly of La Grande, died April 26 in Weiser, Idaho, after an extended illness. His long-time friend and caregiver, Dolores Van Auken, was at his side.

Thomas was born Jan. 29, 1936, in Sanger, Calif. He played football in high school and served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Princeton, a small aircraft carrier.

He moved to La Grande with his family in September of 1964. He worked for Boise Cascade's La Grande lumber mill as a millwright and saw filer. He served as union president for mill employees for 17 years. After retirement in 1997, he and his wife, Virginia, moved to Huntington.

He was preceded in death by his son, Gregory Joseph Cornelius; his wife, Virginia Hornberger Cornelius; his daughter, Robin Cornelius Battrick; and his son, Robert C. Cornelius. He is survived by his sons, C. Michael Cornelius and Curt Cornelius of Alberton, Mont., and Thomas M. Cornelius of La Grande; as well as numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

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