[2] She worked for the American Red Cross in Johnstown and Cleveland, Ohio, as chief nurse of the blood donation program.
[1][2] During World War Two, Cornelius served in the United States Navy Corp of Nurse, Lieutenant Junior Grade.
During this period, Cornelius was also the chairwomen of the American Nurses Association's Finance, Retirement, and Employee Relations Committees.
[1] Cornelius was appointed to national committees by United States Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon.
[2] She held other local positions including ward chairwomen and membership on the Reynoldsburg Planning and Zoning Commission.