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CORYELL OTHO
OTHO CORYELL
Otho Coryell, 89, a long-time former resident of South Russell, died peacefully at 1:30 p.m. on January 9, 2010 in Richmond, Virginia.
Mr. Coryell was born in Bartonville, Illinois, on Sept. 7, 1920. He was the son of Arthur Elmer Coryell and Efelda Sarah Wickkizer. One son, Rodger Alan Coryell, and all siblings, Kenneth Ellsworth Coryell, Arthur Elmer ("Babe") Coryell, John Daniel Coryell, Edythe Coryell, and Velma Ruth Rifley, preceded him in death.
He married Leola Ruth Burr on July 28, 1944 in Shaker Heights. She survives him. To this union were born five children. Surviving are Kenneth William Coryell of Chagrin Falls; Dennis Arthur Coryell of Herndon, Virginia; Claudia Ruth Bagley of Richmond, Virginia; and Lea Allen Coryell of Herndon, Virginia. Also surviving are grandchildren, Dr. Lee Arthur Coryell, Virginia Tai Coryell, Carolyn Marie Bagley, Paul Coryell Bagley, and great-grandchildren Maya Virginia Coryell and Nolan Otho Coryell.
Mr. Coryell endured a difficult childhood in Illinois. His father died in 1930. His mother suffered from epilepsy and was often institutionalized at Peoria State Hospital where she died in 1940. Mr. Coryell spent much of his youth working on the farm of Gid and Edith Behrends in Green Valley. He was the only one of his siblings to receive a high school diploma.
In 1942 Mr. Coryell joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps of the Army Air Force and learned to fly. As a flight instructor in the War Training Service Program he was assigned to Chagrin Falls Airport. There he met and courted his future wife. In 1944 he entered active service with the AAF. Sgt. Coryell became a remote control mechanic gunner on a B-29 and was assigned to the 448th Bomb Group. He was a month away from deployment to the Pacific Theatre when the war ended.
After being discharged from the AAF in 1946, Mr. Coryell returned to Ohio and began to raise a family. He worked as a stone cutter at Sheffield's Monuments in Chagrin Falls for many years and became shop foreman while operating an independent cemetery lettering service on the side. His greatest tragedy occurred in 1951, when eldest son, Rodger, was killed in an automobile accident. Mr. Coryell happened upon the scene while driving home from work. All four surviving children graduated from Chagrin Falls High School and received college educations.
Mr. Coryell lived in South Russell until 1980. He moved to Richmond and established another lettering business, which he and his wife operated for several years. In 2002 Mr. Coryell moved back to Ohio to live with son, Kenneth. In 2006 he returned to Richmond to live with daughter, Claudia, who is a Registered Nurse.
Death occurred at the Bagley household after an extensive period of declining health. His wife and children were with him at the end.
Mr. Coryell was a member of Valley Lutheran Church in Chagrin Falls, Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia, and Celebration Lutheran Church in Chardon. He was also an avid bowler, horseshoe pitcher, chess player, stamp collector, and fisherman.
Memorial services will take place on Friday, January 29, 2010, 11:30 a.m. at Celebration Lutheran Church, 10621 Auburn Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Celebration Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 249, Chardon OH 44024.
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