Oct. 23, 1931 — Jan. 19, 2017
Ray F. Cornelius of Las Vegas, formerly of Fenton, passed away Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at the Wentworth of Las Vegas care facility, at the age of 85. Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Fenton.
Ray and his twin sister were born Oct. 23, 1931, in Fenton to Paul and Ruth (Underwood) Cornelius. He attended and graduated from Fenton High School in 1950. After graduation, he worked for a local carpenter and built several new homes in the Fenton area. In 1952, he became a Marine in Aviation and served 18 months in Korea. In 1955, after his two-year services in the Marines, he enrolled in University of Iowa for four years. After graduation, he headed west, stopping in Las Vegas. He loved the lights and night life so much that he made Las Vegas his home for the next 58 years. He worked as a Black Jack dealer in the Fremont Golden Nugget and Riviera casinos for many years.
Ray is survived by his five nephews and 11 nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Lloyd, Leonard, Earl and Duane, his sisters, Thelma Brown, Virgene Uthof and his twin sister, Rose Mary Booth, as well as, three nephews and two nieces.