Virginia Cornelius
courtesy photo
Virginia Cornelius
RONAN — “I am a child of God and He has sent me here.” Virginia Lee Pickens Cornelius was born April 9, 1938. After a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, she joined our Heavenly Father on Jan. 7, 2016, surrounded by her beloved husband and loving family,
Virginia’s parents, Gerald and Esther Pickens; sister, Geraldine Calouri; stepson, Rick Cornelius; half-brother, Wayne Price; niece, Deborah Post; and son-in-law, Thomas Fry, all precede her in death.
Her husband Edwin Cornelius of Ronan; children: Nita (David) Giles, Bobby (Tami) Charlton, Robin Charlton-Fry, Sheri (Brian) Nordstrom, and James (Linette) Greene; stepchildren: Heidi (Will) McArthur, Ted (Amanda), Jonna Daniels, Joe (Athena) Cornelius, and Pete (Ariel) Cornelius; sisters, Joyce (Dutch) Baughman and Beverly (Don) Hiday; and numerous nephews and cousins, survive her.
Virginia took great pride and joy in her 29 grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren from her blended family. She loved all animals, particularly her duck, Mr. Quackers, and her little dachshund, Tootsie.
Virginia was raised in Missoula and graduated from Missoula County High School. She earned a degree in accounting from the College of Southern Idaho. After several previous relationships, she married the love of her life, Edwin Cornelius, May 23, 1998. They were sealed in the Spokane LDS Temple on Aug. 29, 2015.
Virginia never hesitated to think of others. She was active in numerous community groups and active in her church. She was a woman of many talents and enjoyed crafts, was an avid outdoorswoman, and in her final years found a new love for power lifting, setting several state, national, and world records.
There was nothing Virginia loved more than a good project, whether it was remodeling a fixer-upper, or mending a broken heart. She was a master of the shovel, hammer, and saw. Her yard was always picture-perfect, and Virginia with her trusty lawnmower was a familiar site around Ronan.
A viewing will be held on Friday, Jan. 15, from 6-8 p.m. at the Ronan LDS Church. Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow at the Ronan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mission Valley Animal Shelter, 36251 N Reservoir Road, Polson, MT 59860 or GFWC Ronan Woman’s Club C/O: Connie Romero, President, 211 Franklin Street SE, Ronan MT 59864.
