Kenneth Cordry, 89

Kenneth Cordry passed away on Feb. 6 at Bothwell Regional Health Center.

He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on August 18, 1924 to Dorothy Becker and Earl E. Cordry. He married Charlotte Yount at First Christian Church in Hannibal, Missouri on June 5, 1949. He grew up in Hannibal and graduated from Hannibal High School.

\He was drafted during WWII while attending Hannibal LaGrange College in 1943. He volunteered for the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) and served three years as a paratrooper in the Europe combat theater. He jumped in the D-Day parachute invasion of Normandy and fought at Bastogne, the Battle of the Bulge, the parachute invasion of Holland and final push into Germany. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

After discharge from the Army he returned to attend Hannibal LaGrange College. He graduated in 1947 and continued his education at Truman University in Kirksville where he earned a bachelor's degree in education. He received his Master's degree from the University of Missouri in 1951.

He served as Physical Director of the YMCA in St. Joseph, Missouri before moving to Sedalia. He was a teacher (elementary, middle and high school) and coach in the Sedalia School District for 32 years before retiring in 1983. He was instrumental in initiating competitive swimming in Sedalia and he and his wife spent many summers coaching swim teams at the Sedalia Country Club and the Surf Club. He competed in senior swimming events himself.

Kenneth was a member of the Broadway Presbyterian Church for many years and served as elder and deacon. He was a past member of Sedalia Runners Club and a member of the 101st Airborne Association, VFW, Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Sedalia Retired Teachers. He is survived by his wife of the home; his son and his wife, Kent and Shirley Cordry of Las Cruses, New Mexico; daughter Dr. Diane Cordry Golden of Grain Valley, Missouri: and grandsons Kyle Cordry of St. Cloud, Minnesota and Eric Cordry of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is also survived by two brothers, Dr. Earl Cordry of Vandalia, Missouri and Jim Cordry of Hannibal, Missouri. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lee Cordry and Burton Cordry and one sister Jesse Lou Cordry.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 12, at Broadway Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Rob Hughes officiating. Military honors will be presented by the U.S. Army.

Burial will be later in Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Children's Therapy Center or Broadway Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements are in the care of Heckart Funeral Home.