Charles Clifton Cornette

Charles Clifton Cornette, legendarily known as Chalkeye, passed away peacefully at his home in Lexington, Kentucky on March 26, 2025. Born August 17, 1932, to Cornie and Margaret Elizabeth Spaulding Cornette of Williamson, W.V., he grew up in Ashland, Kentucky where he was a star, multi-sport Tomcat and proud 1950 graduate from the old Ashland High School. After serving 4 years in the Navy, he attended the University of Kentucky on the GI Bill. While there, he loyally followed in his uncle's footsteps and pledged Sigma Nu, where he made the girls swoon, lifelong friends, and stiff drinks. At Kentucky, he played both Baseball and Basketball and cheered for his Wildcats until his final day. He graduated from UK in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce, which remained one of his proudest accomplishments in a life that was full of them.
Chalk was a proud two-time divorcé and worked as a successful Asphalt Salesman for Chevron and later Ergon, a company he loved with his whole heart. A little-known fact about Chalk is that he spent time at the University of California, Berkeley studying Bituminous Engineering and that he was recruited to play basketball for both Seton Hall and the University of Pennsylvania of the Ivy League. He was the most humble man around and it took a lifetime of interrogation sessions by his girls to elicit such information.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, his older sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Ronald Irwin, and his most precious and beloved son, Scott Spaulding Cornette.
He is survived by his three adoring daughters who were certain he hung the moon and loved the Lord – Kendelle Cornette, Paige Cornette Holt (Travis), and Elizabeth Cornette Shropshire (Rick). His grandchildren knew him as Pop Pop and they have so many memories of their grandfather who loved them beyond measure – Parker, Piper, Grayson, and Harrison Holt and Ellison, Charles Carrick, and Pippa Shropshire. He is also survived by his brother, Michael (Cindee) Cornette, niece Katee (Brian) McGrannahan, and nephew Charles (Denita) Irwin.
On Thursday, April 3rd, we will honor him at Apostles Anglican Church located at 200 Colony Boulevard in Lexington, KY. Visitors are welcome at 10 a.m. and his funeral service will begin at noon. A celebration of his extraordinary life will follow the service beginning at 1 p.m. at Lexington Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Chalk by crisscrossing the state with a buddy in search of the all-time best chili dog (it's Weaver's in London) or the greatest fish sandwich known to man or beast (it's Passtime in Louisville). Host the party. Share the recipe. Do anything for your children. Find the shortcut through the neighborhood. Give more than you take. Play some Beach Music. Always tell the truth even when it's incriminating. Go Cats! Wear plaid. Buy the striped tie. Pick up the tab. Hit 'em straight. Vote Republican, and dunk the damn ball.
Catch you on the flip side, Chalkeye, toodle-oo!
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the University of Kentucky for the purpose of establishing an endowed scholarship serving underprivileged students from Eastern Kentucky in Charlie Cornette's memory.
UK Philanthropy
PO Box 910628
Lexington KY 40591-0628
Online gifts may be made at give.uky.edu.
Please note the Charlie Cornette Endowed Scholarship in any reference lines.