Lt. Col. Ellsworth E. Corkum USAF Retired's Obituary
Twenty years ago DNA was not often a topic discussed around the office water cooler. Now it is mentioned in the news almost every day. The scientists will tell you that it is a genetic code that makes every living creature unique and it makes us what we are. But a person’s DNA is more than a physical trait it also defines one’s personality. A personality that is flavored by life’s travels.
In his youth, he survived being struck by lightning, the family move from Nova Scotia to America, the Great Depression, loss of his father and being raised by a single mom with virtually little way of providing for them financially. All of these helped shaped the man he would become.
As a young man in his early 20’s, WW II and his military career created what was to be his destiny. Uncle Sam needed to teach him about airplanes and sent him to New Mexico. While there he met Mildred Yvonne Parker who was studying to be a nurse. Dad instantly fell in love with Mom, and knew this was the woman he was meant to spend the rest of his life. A type A decision maker, he asked her to marry him the very next day. Of course she said no but after a few months she said yes and thus began a 68 year long journey.
Compliments of the Air Force, this journey took them to Africa, Maine, upstate New York, multiple stops along the eastern seaboard and a hardship tour to SE Asia. Inspired by stories by his friend Frank Spargo about salmon fishing, hunting, geoducks, breath taking country and wonderful people, dad accepted an assignment in the Pacific Northwest as he neared retirement from active service.
Retiring at the same time Boeing was undergoing extensive layoffs, Dad was challenged to find a job that matched his lawyer- like skills. Despite the struggles, Dad knew the value of a college education and somehow we were all fortunate enough to all receive our degrees. He was very proud of the careers we have all enjoyed.
Born to fish, Dad hauled an 18’ Herter’s boat everywhere. Not sure if it was the close calls he had with that boat off the La Push coast, or in-your- face encounters with 165 pound halibuts, but in 1972, Mom let him buy the Yankee Clipper. For years, he would make the drive up to Neah Bay on weekends to where the boat was moored during the summer. He’d take that boat out in fog so thick you would not see land all day much less freighters steaming up the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Every now and then he would run into the salmon and make a few bucks, but that was not the point. He just loved being out on the water. There are always exceptions like Ken’s close encounter with a school of killer whales, or sailing through white knuckle passage.
One of Dad’s other loves was taking the dog out to Fort Lewis pheasant hunting. He’d let those yahoos from Seattle run through the fields with their out of control dogs then patiently work those same areas with Blazer, Jimmy, Rusty or Suzie. Often accompanied by Jan’s husband Bill, he’d come home with a limit of pheasant and stories to tell about the dogs. Dad also loved to go waterfowl hunting. From Maine to Syracuse to Long Island to Nisqually Flats, Sequim and Grays Harbor. One of his favorite trips was the annual guided goose hunting trip in eastern Washington with Doug, Dustin, Bill and Peter Fluetsch, Doug’s father-in law. It was three days of storytelling, getting up at 3:00 AM, great hunting, great food and great company.
He is free now. Free of uncooperative joints, free of the world’s problems, free to work the fields with all of his pups, free of barbless hooks, hatchery salmon and two pintail limits. He left knowing his UCONN Huskies, Red Sox and Seahawks had been world champions. He did the best he could do in trying to make us realize our potential and to provide for our families, especially his beautiful bride. More than anything else and to the very end, it was always about making sure the farm girl from New Mexico was taken care of even after he had moved on to play for heaven’s baseball team batting clean up right behind Ted Willams.
Now is the time for Cork’s friends and family to share stories on how their lives were flavored with Cork in them. The celebration of Life service will be held at the home of His daughter Janet Cox and her husband Fred Brotherton on Monday, June 23 at 3pm.
What’s your fondest memory of Lt. Col. Ellsworth?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lt. Col. Ellsworth?
Share a story where Lt. Col. Ellsworth's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lt. Col. Ellsworth you’ll never forget.
How did Lt. Col. Ellsworth make you smile?
