Joseph Robert Corson

Joseph Robert Corson

July 25, 1939 – May 15, 2025

Joseph Robert Corson was born in Takoma Park, MD; his parents were Ernest Haines Corson, Jr. and Elinor Alice Goodacre. He had three younger brothers: all are also deceased. At the tender age of 7, Joe’s Mother died, and he and the two older brothers were placed in the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA. The baby had to be four years old before he could enter Hershey.

Joe is survived by his two sons, Robert Joseph, Stephen Ernest, and his grandson, Michael, and many nephews and nieces.

The Hershey school, at that time, were all boys, not only did the boys receive an education but also had to work on the farms that were near the homes where the boys lived with two house parents. One set were the farmers and operated the barns with the dairy cows and the others-maintained order in the homes.

Joe was small and didn’t like the barn work and realized that he could join the band and get away from the cows. So, he learned to play the trumpet and the flute for the school’s Spartans Marching Band. He also was involved with many school projects for their Science Fairs. The Spartans commit to Integrity and Perseverance, getting up when you get knocked down. Those are life values, not just Milton Hershey School sacred values.

During the summer after high school graduation and before starting his studies at Johns Hopkins, Joe pushed a broom at a New Jersey Bell office where many switchboard workers labored. He also had a job riding a bicycle in the Ocean City, NJ area delivering telegrams. But gave that up when the driver opened his door before he looked and Joe went over the handle bars.

After Joe left Hopkins, he worked for C&P of Maryland where he met his wife, Stephanie. They were introduced to each other by friends at work and dated on weekends for over two years before they were married. They have two sons, Robert Joseph and Stephen Ernest. Joe was involved with the CYO program when his sons were younger. He wanted them to be well rounded and enjoy life. Both boys enjoy reading. Joe always had several mystery books from the PG Library on a table in our home.

Although his method of teaching them some of life’s difficulties could have been better, he only wanted for them grow and be honorable men. When one of them wanted an allowance, he was told to earn it. Thus, Lanham got a teenage boy with a lawn mower and money was earned.

Getting involved was always part of our lives. After being reassigned to another job location, we became members of St. Matthias parish. Joe joined the Knights of Columbus and later the Fourth Degree; he was very active as the Knights’ Treasurer for many years.

Joe worked 38 years as a System Analysist for what became know as Verizon. After he retired, we began new adventures. We volunteered in Baltimore at Baltimore Centre Stage and started Square Dance Classes.

Square Dancing enriched our lives. We made many new and dear friends who are an extended family. As usual we didn’t just join we became angels for the new students and over the years worked on many committees and held offices with the Belair Square Cats and the WASCA organization. Over the years we have taken Round Dance classes as well. What wonderful times we had.

Joe had a very dry sense of humor. One time when he was dancing ARKY, he was going in the wrong direction and his partner was correcting him. His answer was that’s OK, I’m not used to going in two different directions at one time.

Thank you for all your love, respect and caring, Joe, you met the Mission of the Order – Charity, Unity and Fraternity and Patriotism.