COREY, Charles John

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 06/22/2012 Col. Charles John Corey (ret.), 77, died June 16, 2012, of an apparent heart attack at his home in Alpine. Charles was raised in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, where he met Penny, the woman who would ultimately become his wife. He was a talented hockey player and had a tryout with the Montreal Canadiens, a team he would avidly follow for a lifetime. He attended the University of Colorado, but graduated with a B.S. from Troy State University. He served nearly 30 years in the Air Force, which included two tours of duty in Vietnam. In his second tour, he acted as forward air controller attached to the First Cavalry in the initial deployment to An Khe. He helped to pioneer HALO and was Project Officer on the World Record Jump in 1963. During the World Record attempt, the team jumped from an altitude of 43,500 feet, taking the record from the Soviet Union. Over the life of his career he made nearly 700 jumps. For his military service he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and the Legion of Merit. He was a proud lifetime member of the Combat Control Association and carried the medallion, as required, in his pocket at all times. It was in his pocket when he died. His Air Force career took him and his family to Japan, Korea and the Philippines, and all over the continental United States. After serving in the Air Force, he worked for Boeing and lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War. During the war, a phone call with his son was interrupted by a Scud Missile attack, and the missile exploded just a mile from his home. He retired in Alpine in 1994 and served on the Alpine Fire District Board for 17 years. He was a member of the Sheriff’s Posse and assisted in Mountain Search and Rescue. He dearly loved his adopted home. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Penny; son Chuck (Jolene); daughter Susan; and five grandkids: Ray, C.J. , John, Connor, and Abi. Ray and C.J. followed in their grandpa’s footsteps; Ray plays football at the University of Colorado and C.J.is a newly minted Airman. He is also survived by his sister Catherine. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alpine Fire District Pension Fund at Box 227, Alpine, Arizona 85920, would be greatly appreciated. To leave an online condolence, visit www.burnhammortuary.com Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements.