Corinne E. Whitman

April 10, 1926 to February 10, 2023, age 96. Corinne always said “the good Lord’s been good to me. I’ve never been sick”, and she lived that belief right up to the end.

She was born and raised to Margeane (Leamon) and Floyd Cole in the family home in Binghamton and graduated from North High School. Her first job was playing piano for the local church when she was 16 and also did modeling for the Fowler’s department store of Binghamton. She had fond memories of her father walking to the local grocery store to get salami and cheese and would invite the neighbors over to spend the evening singing around the piano.

After World War II, she met her future husband, LaVerne, at a mutual friend’s wedding and after their own wedding they proceeded to Houghton College where LaVerne earned his degree in music ministry. This ended up being a life career for the two of them, LaVerne leading music programs for churches and Corinne accompanying him for the next 50 years.

While LaVerne led church music and also was a grade school music teacher for the Chenango Valley school district, Corinne taught piano and organ lessons and also enjoyed selling real estate for the Vernon Stuart real estate office.

One of Corinne’s hobbies was hanging wall paper, painting and interior decorating. She and LaVerne designed and built their own home in Port Dickinson where they raised their four children: Dale, Deborah, Denise and Donald. Corinne and LaVerne loved entertaining with their many friends from church.

As a 90-year-old widow, she moved to Chenango Valley Home assisted living home in Norwich where she enjoyed another six years with new friends and staff. The staff called Corinne and two other women the “Golden Girls”, with Corinne’s humor earning her the name “Betty White”. Due to declining health she relocated to Chase Nursing Home where her sense of humor and sass entertained the staff and fellow residents.

Corinne is survived by her sons Dale and Donald, daughter Deborah, numerous grandchildren, one great grandchild, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband LaVerne and daughter Denise. A private memorial will be held in the spring. Any donations can be made in Corinne’s name to Chenango Valley Home, 24 Canasawacta Street, Norwich, NY 13815 or Chase Nursing Home, 1 Terrace Heights, New Berlin, NY 13411.