Carl Witt Cornelius, Sr.

Carl Witt Cornelius, Sr., 81, of Carl's Corner was called home to be with Jesus on September 21, 2021.  Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 28, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro. A Celebration of Life Service for Carl will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 29, at Church on The Hill in Hillsboro with Pastor Mike McReynolds officiating.  A committal service will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro.

Carl was born in Kingsville, Texas, on August 17, 1940, to William Rex and Esther Josephine (Willis) Cornelius. 

Carl married the love of his life, Linda, on January 10, 1974. The 47 years they spent together were undeniably an adventure. Carl dreamed big and lived a life without fear and was always full of joy. He loved to tell us stories of his youth - from mischievous school pranks to winning dance competitions to a bet he lost while playing pool that led him to serve in the Army in Okinawa where he became a marksman. After his service, he worked as a supervisor at Owens Corning until answering a call to do missionary work in Mexico. Never afraid to try something new, he then became a land developer and entrepreneur of Carl’s Corner Truck Stop where he founded his namesake city of Carl’s Corner, Texas, where he was mayor and judge for 33 years. He loved fellowship with his family and good friends. He was a long-time player of golf, cards, and dominoes. He read prolifically and dearly loved the Bible and poetry. He loved music, singing, and dancing. In his retirement, he relished time outdoors, bird watching, watering plants, and swinging. He loved to feed everyone and to tell others about Jesus more than anything else. He had a great, big, one-of-a-kind, magnetic personality and unforgettable presence. We were blessed to have the best husband, Daddy, and PawPaw ever, and we will miss him all of our days. 

Carl was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Kyle Rex Cornelius, Jeffrey Ray Cornelius, and Carl Witt Cornelius, Jr.; his grandson, Jeremiah Peter Cornelius; brother, Alfred Douglas Cornelius; sister-in-law, Joyce Cornelius; mother-in-law, Marge Pinkard; and father-in-law, Pat Farrill.

He is survived by his loving wife, Linda; four children, Elizabeth Nemec and husband, David, of Woodway, Jason Cornelius and wife, Laureen, of Stacy, Minnesota, Rachel Green and husband, Darius, of Hillsboro, and Jennifer DelBello and husband, Steven, of Houston; fifteen precious grandchildren, Chance, Jason II, Leo, Walter, Jillian, Luke, Gretchen, Dylan, Olivia, Tilin, Isaac, Bryce, Lexi, Mallory, and Darius II; brother, Ronnie Cornelius and wife, Glenda, of Riviera; sister-in-law, Shelly Sawicki, of Little Canada, Minnesota; and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Church on the Hill, a food pantry of your choice, or a memorial tree via Marshall & Marshall website. Please share your memories of Carl online via Marshall & Marshall website.

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