Mr. Pierre Eugene Fornel

Pierre Eugene Fornel, 85, husband of Helga Ilse Benning Fornel, of Seneca, went to be with our Heavenly Father on Thursday, March 7, 2024, peacefully at his home. Born in Miami, FL, Mr. Fornel was the son of the late Pierre Eugene and Laura Lunette Pierce Fornel. In his early years, Pierre attended high school and trade school simultaneously, where he became a machinist and used those skills throughout his life and career. After graduation, Pierre joined the United States Army and was stationed in Germany, where he met his loving wife of more than 62 years, Helga. During his military career, Pierre was assigned to the 535 th Engineering Department at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he furthered his education in nuclear power. In 1965, he received accreditation for Nuclear Power Operations on pressurized water reactors, concurrent with mechanical specialty training. In 1967, Pierre completed Academic Honors of General and Specialty Training on the MH-1A Nuclear Power Plant. In 1971, he became certified as a Qualified Nuclear Power Plant Shift Supervisor SM-1. In 1972, he was certified by the U.S. Army Core of Engineers for testing and acceptance of diesel generators. Pierre had various assignments throughout his military career, including the South Pole, Alaska, and the Panama Canal Zone. While in the Panama Canal Zone, he served aboard the MH-1A Nuclear Power Reactor and Barge Sturgis and received a Meritorious Service Medal. After a successful career of 20 years in the United States Army, he began his career with Georgia Power. Pierre was hired in the Georgia Power corporate office in Atlanta, GA, and then had a temporary assignment at Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plant. This assignment became a permanent 22-year career, leading him to be a long-time resident of Vidalia, GA. His first position was as a Quality Assurance (QA) Auditor. During that time, he was assigned to the Appendix R Program, which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission required to bring the Plant and its installed equipment in compliance with fire protection codes. Upon successfully completing this project, he was promoted to Manager of Quality Assurance and later Manager of Plant Maintenance and Modifications. While Maintenance Manager, he implemented many successful programs that improved Plant performance and reduced equipment out-of-service time. Pierre significantly improved the work planning process, the working relationship between the Plant and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the communications and coordination of work between all departments. He interacted with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) every two years when they came to the Plant site to evaluate Plant performance. Pierre took pride in the fact that his maintenance department had no findings from any INPO inspection during this time. He also presented INPO with valuable recommendations for improvements to the industry. Mr. Fornel was well respected throughout the industry and by his workers, who always said, “He was tough but fair.” Of all his accomplishments, Pierre felt his greatest accomplishment was his family. He was the best husband, daddy, and Papa. After his retirement, Pierre enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren fishing, swimming, jet-skiing, traveling, and creating and playing many made-up games. He and his wife loved to dance, bowl, travel, cruise the Caribbean, and travel back to Helga’s home country, Germany, where they saw the performance of the Passion Play in Oberammergau. One of their favorite trips was traveling to Jamaica to celebrate their 50 th wedding anniversary. Their marriage was a real-life fairy tale. Pierre loved to tell stories, make everyone laugh, and play cards. Throughout his life, Pierre was a faithful member of his church, serving as a Sunday School teacher and Usher as well as on the Finance Committee. He also became an avid golfer and established many lifelong friendships through the game. His favorite hole on any golf course was the 19th hole. Mr. Fornel is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Helga Fornel; two daughters, Sheila (Edwen) Urquhart of Seneca, SC; Cindy (Mark) Hudson of Lyons, GA; four grandchildren, Meghan (Brett) Wilde of Canton, GA; Lee (Rebecca) Urquhart of Canton, GA; Michael (Lacey) Hudson of Lyons, GA; Mandy Hudson of Lyons, GA; three great-grandchildren, Dawson Wilde, Reilly Wilde, Wrennley Hudson; one sister, Jean Marie Griffin of Jacksonville, FL; one sister-in-law, Karin (Arnold) Zweig of Hudson, FL; several nieces, nephews; and two special friends Bob (Dawn) McNeish and Walter (Cindy) Wagner. In addition to his parents, Pierre was preceded in death by one sister, Lunette Fornel, and one brother, Edward Fornel. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Walhalla, SC. The service will be streamed from the church through their YouTube Channel and Facebook. A visitation will be held at St. Luke Methodist Church from 1:00 PM- 2:00 PM, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Lung Association at www.lung.org or St. Luke United Methodist Church Food Pantry at P.O. Box 339 Walhalla, SC 29691. The families will be at their respective homes.

Mr. Pierre Eugene Fornel

October 15, 1938 - March 7, 2024