Corinne Leister Cowden, Class of 1954
Corinne L. Cowden, age 87, passed away at the Westminster Village Health Center on July 2, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents, The Rev. and Mrs. J. Maurice Leister, two sisters and one brother. She is survived by her husband Bob of 65 years, three sons- Chris (Cheryl), Craig (Kurt) and Clark; grandchildren Mallory, Drew, Ryan, and Justin, and two great-grandchildren, Annika and Judah.
She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church where she served on numerous committees, Leadership Terre Haute, and Friends of the Vigo Co. Public Library.
She held board memberships on Unite Way, United Ministries Center,
Indiana State University Wives, Wabash Valley Chapter of American Institute of Banking, Sigma Alpha Iota, Alternatives for Living and Learning, the Terre Haute South Rotary Club and Chapter DR of the PEO Sisterhood. She very much enjoyed the social atmosphere in the Red Hat Club and the Wednesday Morning Breakfast Group.
Honors included the Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellowship Award and a “March On” Award from Indiana State University.
Born in Lewistown, PA. She was valedictorian of her high school class. She received the B.S. degree in Music Education from Muskingum College (OH) as well as a teaching certificate in elementary education from Wittenberg University (OH). Following a college graduation she taught elementary school in Parma, OH. A move to Cincinnati included part-time work including piano teaching as well as consulting with Mary Kay Cosmetics. She was employed by Merchants National Bank for eighteen years.
A voracious reader, she regularly read over 100 books per year, cataloguing and sharing the listing with friends and relatives.
She battled three incurable diseases bravely with never a word of complaint. To say she will be missed is an understatement.