Dr. Joseph W. Corder Jr., LTC US ARMY (Ret)

1939 - 2024

DR. JOSEPH W. CORDER JR., LTC US ARMY (Retired) 84, of Hurricane, WV passed away August 5, 2024 after a sudden illness at his home.
He was born in Charleston, WV on September 21, 1939 to the late Joseph W. Corder Jr., of Clarksburg, WV and the late Pearl Harper Corder DeWitt of Braxton County, WV. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years, Marilyn Mills Corder.
He is survived by his son, Joseph W. Corder IV (Glenna) of Marmet, WV and his daughter, Carolyn M. Wright(Jeffrey) of Scott Depot, WV. Dr. Corder is also survived by his sister, Barbara Corder Walker (Bruce) of Chillicothe, Ohio; two grandsons: J. Scott Wright II (Erin) of Dunbar, WV and Jonathan A. Wright of Huntington, WV; great grandchildren: Emerson and Eloise Wright both of Dunbar, WV; and several loving nieces and nephews.
Colonel Corder graduated from Charleston High School in 1957, attended both Marshall College and Virginia Tech. Shortly after he and Marilyn were married in 1960, he entered active duty in the U.S. Army and upon completion of the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he earned a commission in the Regular Army of the United States. He continued on active duty until his Army retirement in 1982. During those approximate twenty-two years, he completed a BGS Degree at the University of Nebraska (Omaha), an MBA from Marshall University, as well as U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He also commanded artillery units at Fort Sill, in Germany and in Vietnam. In 1967, he briefly commanded the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station in Beckley, WV prior to his first Vietnam tour, and the Army ROTC Program at Marshall University from 1976 to 1979, after his second Vietnam tour. Colonel Corder's awards include the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and three Army Commendation Medals, as well as other decorations and service ribbons.
In 1983, Dr. Corder was employed by the West Virginia Board of Regents for Higher Education. His primary function for about the next nineteen years involved keeping West Virginia's schools and training programs in compliance with G.I. Bill regulations so students and trainees could further their education under the G.I. Bill. He completed the requirements for the Doctor of Education Degree from WVU in 1992. Among his other duties as assigned, he worked with Admissions and Records Advisory Committees where he managed West Virginia's participation in the SREB Academic Common Market, as well as contract programs for Veterinary Medicine, Podiatry, and Optometry. He was active in the National Association of State Approving Agencies (a G.I. Bill function) serving four years as National Treasurer and one year as President. At about the same time, 1995-98 Dr. Corder was appointed a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.
Dr. Corder retired in 2002, after about a 20-year layoff, golf became almost a daily routine. Never very good at it, he enjoyed almost daily rounds with neighborhood friends. He also enjoyed old cars, especially Porsche and playing bridge in various groups around Teays Valley.
Funeral Service for Dr. Corder will be 12 Noon, Thursday, August 8, 2024 at Chapman Funeral Home Hurricane, WV with Rev. David Bowen officiating. Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park St. Albans, WV.
Friends may visit an hour prior to the service.
Anyone wishing to leave an online memory may do so by visiting his tribute page at: www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com.
The family has asked to continue Dr. Corder's generous giving that memorial donations be made in his name to: Christian Community Cupboard 2843 Virginia Ave. Hurricane, WV 25526.
Chapman Funeral Home 3941 Teays Valley Road Hurricane, WV 25526 is honored to serve the Corder family again.