Kenneth Matthew Cornelius was born October 5th, 1935, in Gadsden AL passed away on Wednesday October 7th, 2026.Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Friday October 9th, 2026, at Collier Butler Funeral Home. Rev. David Little will officiate. Interment will take place at Rainbow Memorial Gardens on Sunday October 11, 2026. The family will receive friends for visitation at the Funeral Home from 10:30 AM until 12:00 PM prior to the service.
Kenneth was a sweet and caring husband, father, and grandfather. He and Gail were married 68 loving years after they fell in love at the ages of 19 and 22. They married on June 28th, 1958. He always remembered every anniversary, birthday, and Valentine’s Day with a card and candy or flowers. Kenneth loved football and enjoyed watching one game after another on Saturdays he played the position of fullback for Emma Sansom High School and even played one game with a broken leg. He made lifelong friends with his football buddies. He was a graduate of the class of 1955 and was also a graduate of Jacksonville State University. Kenneth loved his wife and family. He was always willing to untangle any necklace for his wife, and she brought him many over the years. He was very patient and kind. Kenneth worked hard and at the end of the day he always came home to be with his family. He was a home loving man.
He was a faithful member of Joanne’s Brown’s Sunday school class at Southside Baptist Church for many years until Joanne’s passing and his health began to fail. Kenneth was a Christian and Gale knows she will be joined with him again in heaven. Kenneth retired from the Boeing company and spent most of his working years in Huntsville AL. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Bessie Cornelius and his brother Milton Cornelius.
Kenneth is survived by his loving wife Sandra Gail (Fulmer) Cornelius; Children Debra Leigh Cornelius and David Lee Cornelius; And granddaughter Lilyana Grace Cornelius. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Riverview Regional Hospital staff, 3rd floor CCU nurses especially “Q”. Also special thanks to Dr. Bailey, Dr. Shaw and Dr. Narayan.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jeff Lankford, ray thrasher, Brady Lankford, and Robert ball.
