John West Cornelius, 80, died Feb. 5, 2005 in his home. He was born in Gadsden, Ala. to Samuel C. and Beatrice DeHart Cornelius. John moved to Pulaski at an early age and as a teenager he then moved to Portsmouth. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII

and retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. He was a member of Churchland Masonic Lodge #276, Portsmouth Scottish Rite and Cradock Presbyterian Church.

John was predeceased by his parents; one sister, Katherine Cornelius Powers; and his first wife, Mary O. Cornelius. He is survived by his wife, Martha Hicks Cornelius; one sister, Agnes Cornelius Powers and her husband, Jefferson L. Powers; two stepsons, Lloyd Hunter Hicks and his wife, Catherine of Mechanicsville and Robert Lewis Hicks of Suffolk; two step-grandchildren, John Robert Hicks and Elizabeth Kate Hicks of Suffolk.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday with Masonic Rites in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel by Rev. Richard Lovingood. The family received friends Monday in the Loving Funeral Home, Churchland Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Cradock Presbyterian Church. Send

condolences to www.lovingfuneralhome.com.