Alvin "Doc" Cornish

Alvin Gerald "Doc" Cornish, 98, went to be with his Lord on May 24, 2015. He resided at Pleasant Hills Retirement Center in Little Rock, Arkansas and was formerly a longtime resident of Pine Bluff. Born May 16, 1917 in Pike County Arkansas, he was a son of George Washington Cornish and Clementine Porter Cornish. After high school, he moved to Moss Point, Mississippi where he began his 41 year career with International Paper Company. He met and married the love of his life Vyrtle McLain in 1942. Mr. Cornish served in the U.S. Army during World War II in England, France, and Belgium. He landed on the beaches of Normandy two weeks after D-Day where he was reunited with his brother, Calvin. He and his family moved to Pine Bluff in 1958, and was a machine tender on machine #1, which at that time was the largest paper machine in the world. He continued working for International Paper Company until his retirement in 1980. Doc loved gardening and provided friends and family with fresh vegetables for many years. He also spent many hours on Lake Pine Bluff fishing with friends. Predeceasing him are his parents; his wife; his brothers, Perry Cornish and Calvin Cornish; sisters, Faye Hultz, Ozzie Dollarhide, JoDean Propps; and Jackie Steeley. He is also preceded in death by a son Gerald Cornish. Survivors include his son, Bobby Cornish (Kay) of Alexander, Arkansas; daughter-in-law, Sandra Cornish Simmons (Van) of Hot Springs, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Jill Rogers, Gail Pruitt, Jay Cornish, Douglas Cornish, Daniel Cornish and Sherri Brice; and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Pleasant Hills Retirement Center for the loving caring they gave Doc during the 17 years he lived there. We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at St. Vincent Infirmary especially Dr. James Metrailer and Dr. Bilal Sadiq. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Saturday May 30, 2015 at Fuller Hale South Funeral Home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The graveside service will follow at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 508 N. Reynolds Road, Bryant, Ark. 72022; or a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences: FullerFunerals.com.