On Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, Harry Edward Corr of Gloucester, died surrounded by family after a short illness. He led a full life of devotion to family, service to community, and entrepreneurship.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jean Hogge Corr who was his childhood sweetheart; his children, Andrew Reade Corr of Raleigh, North Carolina, Cynthia Corr Rovani of McLean, Virginia, Christopher Watlington Corr and his wife Carolyn of Marietta, Georgia; seven grandchildren, Andrew Reade Corr Jr. and his wife Tiffany, Mary Grace Corr, Lucas Rovani, Camille Rovani, Katharine Corr, Harry Corr II, Joseph Corr; his sister, Ruth Corr Anderton of Williamsburg, Virginia, and many caring nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Ruth’s twin, Thama Rosalie Corr.
In 1934, Harry was born in the family home on the York River at Wicomico to Fred Basye Corr and Elsie Crowder Corr. He graduated from Botetourt High School as salutatorian of the Class of 1951 and went on to Virginia Tech, where he was a member of the Army ROTC, clarinetist in the Highty-Tighties Marching Band, and a graduate of the Class of 1955. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers in post-war Japan and Korea.
Following his military service, Harry returned to Virginia to begin his distinguished career in business. He formed his first company, American Industrial Corporation, in 1962, a company that served the port of Hampton Roads with materials handling equipment, hoists, cranes and other conveyor systems. He went on to found other businesses: Industrial Construction Corporation, Insulply, and Roadview Farm Nursery. In later years, he worked with partners to develop real estate in Gloucester and Mathews.
He served on numerous boards, including the Gloucester County Planning Commission, the Gloucester Point Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris fellow, the Ware River Yacht Club, and the Lewis B. Puller Center. In 1995, Harry was chosen by the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce to receive the Businessperson of the Year award. Further, he was named Daffodil Festival Grand Marshal in 1997.
Harry served for years as a Trustee and choir member of Newington Baptist Church, where his great-grandfather, Levi Pace Corr, was a founding member. He was a communicant of Abingdon Episcopal Church, where he served on the board of Arts at Abingdon.
Harry had a lifelong love of music, performing in the Williamsburg Common Glory, Virginia Tech Glee Club, Choir of the Itazuke Air Force Base, Gloucester Lions Club Show, and many church choirs.
As an agricultural engineer, Harry established gardens at many sites in Virginia and Maryland, including: James Madison University, dedicated to Dr. Caroline Baytop Sinclair, a Gloucester historian; The College of William and Mary; James V. Morgan Garden at Gloucester First Presbyterian Church; Freedom B. Goode Garden at Zion Poplars Baptist Church; Woodville Park; Newington Baptist Church; Chesapeake College; Rappahannock Community College; Pocahontas Garden near St. Therese Catholic Church; Crepe myrtle gardens along George Washington Memorial Highway in Gloucester, and four separate gardens at Virginia Tech.
Harry donated several acres of farmland for use by the Gloucester County Jail, where prisoners had the chance to raise their own food.
The family will receive friends at the Corr home, Roadview Farm, on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 4:30-7 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16 at Abingdon Episcopal Church at 4645 George Washington Memorial Highway in White Marsh. Burial will be a private family service.
For more information, contact Andrews Funeral Home & Crematory in Gloucester.