Ruby I. Cornell of Overland Park, KS, passed away peacefully November 19, 2023 at Brookdale Senior living in Overland Park. Funeral services to be held 2:00 pm Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at Mullinax Funeral Home, 10 S. High Street, Butler, MO 64730 (660-679-0009). Burial will follow services in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to Ascend Hospice, 4550 W. 109th Street, Overland Park, KS. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Ruby was born near Butler, MO to Hal and Edith (Hughes) Cornell. She graduated from Butler High School and began working for Government services with the War Ordnance Department at Lake City. She resigned her position upon her marriage to Robert Cornell and moved with him to Springfield, MO.
Ruby later returned to Government service with the VA Hospital at Springfield, MO. When the hospital closed, she went to work for the Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Real Estate Table Rock Dam Project Office at Branson, MO. She and her husband also bought and operated a boat and fishing dock on Lake Taneycomo. When the Table Rock project was complete, she transferred to Heber Springs, AR at the Greers Ferry Dam project and later to the Rogers, AR Dam Project Office.
Ruby subsequently transferred to the Kansas City, MO District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was based at their Sedalia, MO office. After completing this assignment, she transferred to the Real Estate Division of the District Office in Kansas City, MO. She was promoted and reassigned to the Personnel Office where she remained until transferring to the Environmental Protection Agency Region VII Office in Kansas City. She was the Personnel Officer for the region when she retired. Ruby received many performance awards and promotions during her 31 years of Government Service.
Ruby was a longtime member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Independence, Mo. She was always ready to help anyone in need.
After retirement, Ruby became an avid golfer and a regular competitor until age 90 during which time she had two Hole-In-Ones.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Edna Cornell Belk and Thelma Cornell Morris Wheatly, and her brothers Walter, Lloyd, Don, and Hal Jr. She is survived by her son Gary (Marilyn) Cornell, granddaughter Michelle (Danny) Bartel, grandson Ryan Cornell, great-granddaughter Abigail (Samuel) Cruz, great-grandson Aaron Bartel. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.