Obituary of James S. McCorkle

James Stinson McCorkle (Jim) died in his home at Greenspring Village, Springfield, Virginia Monday morning August 8, 2011, one month from his 98th birthday. He was born in Hinton, West Virginia Sept 5, 1913, graduated from Concord State Teachers College, Athens, West Virginia, and started his career teaching math and science at Hinton High School. He came to Washington D.C. in 1942 to work for the Bureau of Standards and transferred to the Dept. of Navy to work on high explosives where he was granted patent 2,583,004 “Underwater Explosion Gauges”. After taking additional courses in engineering, he was reclassified by the Navy as an electrical engineer and spent his later years working on missile guidance systems. He was part of the teams that brought Sidewinder, Sparrow, Talos, SUBROC, Harpoon, and the Tomahawk Cruise Missile to fruition, retiring in 1975. Jim was an avid square dancer/caller, round dancer/cuer and leader. He began calling in 1946 and continued until he was 95, only stopping due to a bone fracture. He served as President of the National Capital Area Square Dance Leaders Association (NCASDLA) 1954-55 and 1971-72 and over the years called for numerous clubs, classes, and was especially gifted at one-night stands where he brought great joy to PTA’s, recreation departments, youth hostels, churches, civic associations and professional groups. Jim was an exceptional father and husband. He taught his children a strong work ethic, values, and problem solving skills—with a favorite line being, “If someone else figured out how to make it, you can surely figure out how take it apart and put it back together again.” He instilled a strong sense of family through projects, camping, and insisting on the family eat breakfast and dinner together. Jim’s greatest joy in life was “the apple of his eye” –“Sal”. In his later years he said about her, “The Lord was blessing me throughout my life when I did not realize he was blessing me!” Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John Douglas McCorkle and Katie (Kathryn Miller Stinson) McCorkle, and his sister Charlotte. He is survived by his wife of 66 years (November 3, 1945) Sara Anne (Pittman) McCorkle, and their four children, Allen Douglas, John William, James Stinson Jr. (Corky James) and Charlotte Ann. Grandchildren include, from Allen (Elisabeth Gayle Campbell): Douglas, Matthew, Benjamin, and Jacob; from John (Greer Burgess Dixon): Arlen, Dara, Gabriel, Elsa, and Quinn; from Charlotte (William (Bill) Shirey): Katy. Great grandchildren include, from Doug (Anne Kathrene Lenzen): Abby, Sophie, Ian, Evan, and Ellie; and from Matthew (Carrie Anne Snider): Madeline and Allison. A viewing will be held from 10 AM-12 PM Friday, August 12, at Advent Funeral and Cremation Services 7211 Lee Highway, Falls Church VA 22046, followed by interment at National Memorial Park 7482 Lee Highway Falls Church VA 22042. A Memorial Celebration service will be held in September. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, Arlington, Virginia or Hospice Care at Greenspring Village.