C.W. “Dude” Cornell

C.W. “Dude” Cornell, 86, died Monday, July 7, 2014 in Amarillo.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2014, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood, officiating

Burial will follow at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

C.W. “Dude” Cornell, 86, passed away Monday, July 7, 2014, after complications from a car accident.  Dude, the youngest of eleven children, was born on March 4, 1928, in Paducah, TX, to Zimmeriah Calhoun and Lizzie Jane Acrea Cornell. He graduated from Paducah High School and served in the Navy during the Korean War, before moving to Clarendon.

In 1940, Dude began a long career in the service station industry, eventually partnering with his brother Lonnie “Bill” Cornell, his friend Bob Kidd, and his son, Bill Cornell, as well as working up until his death as sole owner.

He also served his county as a commissioner for sixteen years, sold real estate and enjoyed tending to cattle and horses.

He will be remembered by many for his kind words, contagious smile, random acts of kindness, and sense of humor.

Dude was preceded in death by his wife of thirty years, Wanda Marie Elliott in 1991.

He is survived by two children:  one son, Bill Cornell and wife Deanna of Clarendon; one daughter, Cara Malone and husband Buck of Clifton, TX; seven grandchildren:  Holly Cornell of Canyon; Jill Molloy and husband Colt of Canyon; Zach Cornell of Clarendon; Jake Malone currently residing in Iceland; Mackenzie Malone of Lubbock; Candice Malone of Clifton, TX, and Cassidy Malone of Clifton, TX.

The family request memorials be sent to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for Spinal Cord Injury Research or the local VFW.