Thomas Harold Corson, 92, of Middlebury, Ind., and Naples, Fla., peacefully passed away in his Indiana home on Dec. 23.
Surviving Corson is his son Benjamin; daughter Claire; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Corson is also survived by his special friend and partner Meurlene Teague, half-sister Judi Lentz; and widowed sisters-in-law Janice Corson and Patricia Sue Corson. He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings Keith D. Corson, Claude E. Corson and Rosalie
P. Corson, and his beloved wife, Dottie.
Born on Oct. 15, 1927, to Carl W. and Charlotte Corson in Elkhart, Ind., Corson was truly a self-made man whose strong work ethic and sense of responsibility shaped his life. At the age of 9, Corson assumed responsibility for helping raise his younger siblings when his father died unexpectedly. After graduation from Elkhart (Indiana) High School in 1945, Corson proudly served in the U.S. Naval Air Force, V5 Pilot Training Program. In 1948, Corson married Dorthy Scheide of Tenaha, Texas, with whom he shared 67 years of devoted marriage until her death in 2016.
Corson began his career with Associates Investment Co. in 1948. In 1964, Corson co-founded Coachmen Industries with his brothers Keith and Claude and wife Dottie. As chairman and CEO, he led Coachmen to become one of the largest and most respected RV and modular housing manufacturers in the country.
Corson was very involved in numerous RV industry activities throughout his career and he positively impacted civic affairs throughout the state of Indiana. His Industry contributions were recognized by many awards including his induction into the RV Hall of Fame (1990), RV Industry Association’s Industry Leadership Award (1992), RV Dealers Association’s iconic Titan Award (1995), and the IMHA-RVIC Legacy Award (2002).
His civic contributions were recognized by numerous awards including induction into the Indiana Business Hall of Fame (1999), IUSB’s E. M. Morris Award (1982), Ernst & Young’s Master Entrepreneur of Indiana Award (1996), Lion’s Club Citizen of the Year Award (1997), Sagamore of The Wabash Award (1998), Impact Player – 20 People from the 20th Century (1999), and the Indiana Chamber’s Distinguished Leadership Award (2001).
More recently, Tom was honored by the Junior Achievement’s C.G. Conn Award (2016), induction into the IU President’s Circle (2017) and receipt of the IUSB’s Chancellor’s Award (2017).
Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, 1003 S. Main Street, Middlebury. There will also be one hour of visitation prior to 11 a.m. funeral service on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the First United Methodist Church, 720 S. Main Street, Middlebury; burial will follow immediately at Grace Lawn Cemetery, Middlebury. Military Graveside Honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy. Reverend Ron Russell will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Interlochen Center for the Arts (Thomas H. Corson Memorial Fund), PO Box 199, Interlochen, MI 49643; and the First United Methodist Church of Middlebury, 720 S. Main Street, Middlebury, IN 46540.
