Charles Bud Cornell, June 07, 1924 — March 09, 2019

Charles’ Obituary Charles “Bud” Cornell, retired Captain of the Baltimore City Fire Department, was born in Baltimore, MD on June 7, 1924. He attended Baltimore Public Schools and graduated in 1942 from Baltimore City College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 1942, and after training, was sent with the 8th Air Force to England as a radio operator-gunner on a B-24 Liberator Bomber, with the rank of S/Sgt.

He successfully completed 26 combat missions in North Africa and England. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 4 Air Medals and the Purple Heart. He returned to the U.S. in June 1944, and was honorably discharged in October 1945.

Charles Cornell remained in the U.S. Army Reserves and was recalled to Active Duty as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Air Force in 1951. He served as Crash Rescue Officer in Tokyo, Japan during the Korean War.

He retired from the U.S.A.F. Reserve on June 7, 1984 with the rank of Captain. He entered the Baltimore City Fire Department as a Fireman on March 26, 1947 and rose through the ranks as Lieutenant in 1959 and as Captain in 1964.

Most of his tenure was spent in the Fire Investigation Bureau (Arson Squad) as an investigator. He retired in October 1983 as an Instructor at the Fire Academy, with the rank of Captain. He entered Washington Lodge #3 A.F. & A.M. in 1948 and was an active member for over 60 years.

He was coroneted a 33 degree Scottish Rite Mason in 1991. He was a member of Boumi Temple Shrine for over 40 years, where he was a member of the Legion of Honor and various clubs. He was happily married to Doris Harding Cornell from September 1, 1950 until the time of her death on December 13, 1969.

He was preceded in death by his devoted wife Lavinia Florence Cornell, whom he was married to from November 26, 1970 until her departure on February 5, 2007. Charles is survived by his daughter, Susan Orzolek and her family, his stepson, Ron Roberts and his family, and his daughter in law, Debbie Roberts and her family, as well as nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Charles passed away on March 9, 2019.

A visitation will be held on Friday from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM at the family-owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 York Rd, where a Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 11 AM. Interment Moreland Memorial Park.

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