Dr. Thomas Corpening

1926 - 2021

Thomas N. Corpening, M.D.
1926-2020
Dr. Thomas Nye Corpening was born to Dr. Oscar J. and Alice Surles Corpening in Granite Falls, NC. He passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, December 20, 2020. Tom was preceded in death by his wife Shirley , both parents and all eleven siblings Elizabeth, Sara, Albert, William, Robert, Mary Watson, Adelaide, Joseph, James, Barbara and Gene.
Tom graduated from the University of North Carolina and received his medical degree from the University of Maryland. In his family he became the fourth of his brothers to become a doctor, following his father and his great-aunt who was the first woman to graduate from UNC Medical School.
During the Korean conflict, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon, achieving the rank of captain. While stationed in Japan for two years, he married Shirley McDonald in Tokyo in 1953 and they eventually moved to Houston, Texas.
He practiced Internal Medicine for more than 65 years, retiring at the age of 88. His wide-ranging interests included stock market analysis, bridge, dancing and gardening, with an appreciation of blooming weeds. As an art student at the Glassell School of Art for over 30 years, he created an enormous body of artwork with a unique point of view. He authored two books, "Autobiofeedback" and "The Pet Rock Joke Book."
He is survived by his children Lloyd Corpening, Carolyn Weaver and her husband Mark and Owen Corpening and his wife Diana, grandchildren Robert Corpening, Kirby Weaver and Deborah Corpening and many nieces and nephews. Despite living in Texas for over 60 years, he remained a North Carolina Tar Heel at heart.
Please visit Tom's online memorial tribute at gracefulmemorialchapel.com to share memories and words of comfort and condolences.