MERIDIAN —



    Ovit C. “Corky” Corkern died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. The World War II veteran was 91 years of age. He was born in Franklinton, La., on July 12, 1921. He played football at Franklinton High School, and shortly after the outbreak of war, in 1941, he deployed with the 105th Anti Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. He and his brothers, Henry and Ezra, made beach assault landings in the Mediterranean Arena. His youngest brother, Ezra, lost his life going ashore in Sicily. Ovit was seriously wounded in 1944, in Italy in sight of Monte Casino.

    After the war, he attended vocational school in Shreveport, La., and embarked on a successful career in heating and refrigeration. He eventually started his own business in partnership with Mr. Jack McMullen and was well known as one of the best mechanics in his field.

    In retirement, he enjoyed fishing and maintaining his property, and he stayed quite active up to the last few weeks of his life.

    Survivors include his sister, Irene Corkern Howk; his wife of 32 years, Mary Newell Corkern, and her children: Jeff Gilbert, Sheila Gilbert Nettles, Brian Gilbert; and, Mary’s grandsons: Jeffrey Kline Gilbert, Gage Allen Nettles, and Braden P. Gilbert. His surviving children are William Ezra Corkern and Patricia Ruth Corkern by his former wife, Ruth Piggot Corkern.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, Isaac William Corkern and Idel Sylvest Corkern; his brothers: Henry Floyd Corkern, Percy Allen Corkern, Murphy Wilson Corkern Sr., Hugh Kassle Corkern and William Ezra Corkern; and his sister, Zulima Corkern Sullivan.

    Visitation will be today, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home, 6300 Highway 39 North, Meridian.

    Also, visitation and funeral services will be held Saturday, at 1 p.m., at Sunlight Baptist Church. Burial will be in Sunlight Baptist Church Cemetery, 18184 Sunlight Road, Franklinton, La.

    Family and friends may sign the online guest book at robertbarhamffh.com.