Rogene Gloria Cordes (Corn)

Mrs. Rogene Cordes, 87, of Isle of Palms, SC, died peacefully and surrounded by family on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at Hospice of Charleston, following a brief illness. Rogene was born in 1927 in Roswell, NM to the late Fred and Bea Corn. Raised on a large cattle and sheep ranch near Roswell, New Mexico, she was a straight A student and talented equestrian from an early age. Rogene graduated from Colorado Women's College at age nineteen, with an Associate in Arts Degree. Following college, Rogene returned to Roswell where she worked for First National Bank. She abruptly ended her banking career when she met a handsome young Air Force pilot from Georgia, Lt. Harry N. Cordes. Married in 1948, the couple had two daughters. As a military family, they traveled extensively, living in Texas, California, Florida, Alabama, Nebraska and Virginia. Harry and Rogene retired to Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms in 1978. In addition to being a mother and homemaker, Rogene was an avid volunteer, serving at various times as a Sunday school teacher in the Presbyterian Church, Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader, head of the Officers' Wives Club, docent for the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC, and a volunteer “angel” at Hospice of Charleston. A talented pianist and artist, she especially enjoyed playing songs from the Big Band Era and painting scenes from nature in pastels and water colors. Active in her community until the end, Rogene loved attending exercise classes at the Isle of Palms Recreation Center with her Wild Dunes and IOP friends and neighbors. Rogene's husband Harry passed away in 2004. She is survived by daughters, Gloria Cordes Larson and husband Allen of Yarmouth Port, MA and Jeanne Nation Cordes of Tamarindo, Costa Rica; grandsons, Ashley Louis Cordes and Decker Brooke Cordes of Mt. Pleasant, SC; brother, William B. Corn and wife Crystal of Roswell, NM; numerous nieces and nephews; and the extended family of her late husband in the Charleston area. Rogene's brother Robert F. Corn predeceased her. The family will receive friends at a “Celebration of Life” on Saturday, October 11, 2014 from 4-6 pm, with a brief reception to follow, at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, alongside her husband, Brig. General Harry N. Cordes. Memorial donations may be made in Rogene’s honor to Hospice of Charleston, 676 Wando Park Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.McAlister-Smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1520 RIFLE RANGE RD., MT PLEASANT, SC (843) 884-3833.