Dolores Cornell
Dolores Cornell January 2013 Dolores was born on January 4, 1930 in the small community known as Chittyville, north of Herrin on Freeman Spur Road. Growing up she remembers a very happy childhood that she shared with four brothers and two sisters. Her father built their home on twelve acres that was given to him by his father when he married. Dolores’ father was a coal miner and worked at the Bobby -Dick mine. It was the mine he helped open and he worked at that mine nearly all of his working years. Dolores attended Chittyville Grade School where she recalls having great teachers and an exceptional principal, Mr. Holmes. The forties was a time that she remembers vividly. Her two oldest brothers served in the military and she remembers many products being rationed, like gas and having a speed limit of 35mph. Dolores graduated from grade school and it was during her junior year in high school that she met her future husband, Richard Cornell. She fell madly in love and in 1946 they eloped and were married. Richard graduated high school that
Highlights at a Glance
Dolores has four children, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren She had several jobs throughout the years but her favorite was being a stay at home mom She was married for sixty four years She loves to read
same year, but Dolores did not finish high school. She later earned her G.E.D. They bought their first home in 1949 and there they raised their children; Greg, Ron, Tamara, and Curt. In 1976 they built a home in Ferges, just east of Herrin near Johnston City. They lived there until 2002 when Richard and Dolores moved to her present address on 9th Street in Herrin. By that time their children were all grown with children of their own (seven boys and one girl). Now she’s in the greatgrandchildren era with four boys and seven girls. During her early years, Dolores worked at two local factories, a clothing store and a grocery store. For a brief time she worked at the Williamson County Courthouse for a good friend who was the circuit clerk and she also served as an election judge. But mainly through the years she enjoyed being a stayat-home mom. Her husband worked at Sangamo Electric, Herrin Ice Plant, a grocery store and as a salesman in an electric supply store. He later found his “niche” in selling insurance. He owned the Cornell Insurance Agency for forty years, retiring in 1992 as his health was failing. Dolores remembers so many good years together and many good friends. They traveled and enjoyed life with their family until his death in September of 2010. They shared sixty-four wonderful years together.
Dolores was baptized in the Herrin Christian Church, in 1952 and taught Sunday school, VBS and helped in various other positions. All of her children were baptized in the Christian church. In 1964, Jerry and Sharon Butler moved into their neighborhood and what started out as friendship soon became like family. Jerry served as minister at the Church of Christ and she would attend with them on occasion. Jerry’s friends would become their friends including Val and Gertrude Gould, Bob and Ethyl Jeralds, Jim and Nancy Clem, Eddie and Janet Usher, Mildred Phegley, Kay and Harrison Norris and others. Her husband Richard also knew John Norville growing up in the Hurst-Bush community. She remembers when she started attending the Herrin Church of Christ she felt as though she already belonged here. Tina Bolin was always the first person to greet her when she arrived. Dolores loves sewing, gardening, and reading (especially biographies). She has many interests but says she’s master of none. Her favorite scripture is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believed in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That’s the story of her past, present and future. By Sheryl Brenningmeyer
Highlights at a Glance
Dolores has four children, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren She had several jobs throughout the years but her favorite was being a stay at home mom She was married for sixty four years She loves to read
same year, but Dolores did not finish high school. She later earned her G.E.D. They bought their first home in 1949 and there they raised their children; Greg, Ron, Tamara, and Curt. In 1976 they built a home in Ferges, just east of Herrin near Johnston City. They lived there until 2002 when Richard and Dolores moved to her present address on 9th Street in Herrin. By that time their children were all grown with children of their own (seven boys and one girl). Now she’s in the greatgrandchildren era with four boys and seven girls. During her early years, Dolores worked at two local factories, a clothing store and a grocery store. For a brief time she worked at the Williamson County Courthouse for a good friend who was the circuit clerk and she also served as an election judge. But mainly through the years she enjoyed being a stayat-home mom. Her husband worked at Sangamo Electric, Herrin Ice Plant, a grocery store and as a salesman in an electric supply store. He later found his “niche” in selling insurance. He owned the Cornell Insurance Agency for forty years, retiring in 1992 as his health was failing. Dolores remembers so many good years together and many good friends. They traveled and enjoyed life with their family until his death in September of 2010. They shared sixty-four wonderful years together.
Dolores was baptized in the Herrin Christian Church, in 1952 and taught Sunday school, VBS and helped in various other positions. All of her children were baptized in the Christian church. In 1964, Jerry and Sharon Butler moved into their neighborhood and what started out as friendship soon became like family. Jerry served as minister at the Church of Christ and she would attend with them on occasion. Jerry’s friends would become their friends including Val and Gertrude Gould, Bob and Ethyl Jeralds, Jim and Nancy Clem, Eddie and Janet Usher, Mildred Phegley, Kay and Harrison Norris and others. Her husband Richard also knew John Norville growing up in the Hurst-Bush community. She remembers when she started attending the Herrin Church of Christ she felt as though she already belonged here. Tina Bolin was always the first person to greet her when she arrived. Dolores loves sewing, gardening, and reading (especially biographies). She has many interests but says she’s master of none. Her favorite scripture is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believed in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That’s the story of her past, present and future. By Sheryl Brenningmeyer
