Cory, John Catlin
1921-2017 A life lived in full measure: John Catlin Cory, January 17, 1921 - May 9, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Anna (Sunny) Cory, numerous nieces and nephews, godchildren and friends far and wide.
John was born in Leavenworth, KS to Homer Davis and Eloise Catlin Cory. He grew up in eastern, Kansas, riding his pony "Trixie" to school and back. In his youth, John was a "geek" before that term had been coined, performing basement "research" to the acute discomfort of family and neighbors. After high school, John matriculated at Park College in Missouri, where he pursued his passion for chemistry. He developed an interest in nuclear science and pursued independent studies using the papers of Niels Bohr, since no texts existed at that time.
After graduation, he was immediately recruited as a researcher for the early stages of the Manhattan Project. He reported for duty and became a key researcher at the time when the project was actually located in Manhattan.
World War II was in full flow by then, and despite being asked to take a deferment as a critical contributor to the war effort, John had decided to contribute more directly. He resigned from the Manhattan project and joined the Army Air Corps. After training as a navigator for the B-24 "Liberator" and commissioning, he was assigned to the 15th AAF operating from Italy. He flew on many combat missions, and before the war’s end he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism, the Air Medal with multiple Oak Leaves for meritorious Service, and multiple campaign stars.
After discharge, John enrolled at Kansas University to pursue graduate studies. It was there that he met his great love, Anna (Sunny) Jones. After an eventful courtship they were married. With his graduate degree, he was employed as a research chemist, chemical engineer, and marketing representative for The DuPont Corporation. While at DuPont, he worked on several product technology breakthroughs in common use today. During this period, John and Sunny traveled often, nationally and internationally.
As they contemplated retirement, John and Sunny "discovered" New Mexico and moved here in 1978. They continued their travels - Europe, the Caribbean, China, etc. but had a special affinity for the lesser known parts of Mexico. He was a serial dog lover, having a lifetime fondness for Chow Chows. He was a devout and active member of the Cathedral Church of St. John in Albuquerque. He had an abiding love of music, especially opera, and was active in the church choir. John was blessed with a fine baritone voice and traveled internationally with the choir.
Sunny wishes to thank the skilled and empathetic nursing staff at the VA Hospital for the loving care provided John. He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends. A celebration of John’s life will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. John, 318 Silver SW in Albuquerque on May 27, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus.