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 Col. (Ret) Sanders A. Cortner, US Army, 83, of
Carlisle, died Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at Cumberland Crossings Retirement Community, Carlisle. He was born Thursday,
July 26, 1928, in Decatur, Alabama, a son of the late Sanders A. Cortner, Sr. and Inez (Teasley) Harris.
He graduated high school from the Columbia Military Academy in
Columbia, TN and was a 1951 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York. He served in the US
Army from 1951 to 1981 and was a military manager at every organizational level to include battalion, corps, and Department
of the Army. He was a veteran of the Korean War and a two tour veteran of the Vietnam War. Col. Cortner was awarded many honors
for his distinguished military service. He earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit,
the Soldier's Medal, Air Medal with Valor (20 OLC), Master Parachute Badge, Combat Infantry Badge with one Star, Korea
Service Medal with two Stars and the Vietnam Service Medal with four Stars. He graduated from the United States Army War College
with the Class of 1972. His following posts included the Faculty of the Infantry School in Ft. Benning, GA and
as Principal Staff Officer, G-1, V Corps in Frankfurt, Germany. He then returned to join the staff at the USAWC as an
instructor with the Strategic Analysts and Study Group at the Strategic Studies Institute and as the Director of Operations
Group.
After
retiring from the Army in 1981, Col. Cortner was employed for 10 years as the Deputy Director of Response and Recovery with
the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency where he was instrumental in the implementation of SARA, Title III, legislation
concerning Pennsylvania's capability to respond to emergencies with hazardous materials. He was an active member of the
USAWC Memorial Chapel and later a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Carlisle. Col. Cortner was a private pilot, enjoyed
traveling with his wife and was an avid golfer.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 39 years, Nancy (Daugherty) Cortner, three
daughters; Catherine (and her husband, Mike) Anderson of Carlisle, Jennifer Cortner (and her husband, Bruce Scallon) of Alexandria,
VA and Laura Cortner of Owings Mills, MD, one brother, Hood Harris of Courtland, AL, two sisters; Teasley White of Newton,
KS and Susan Willis of Athens, TN, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and several
nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Jo Cortner, who died in 1971.
A memorial service will be held Friday, November 4, 2011 at 2
p.m. at the USAWC Memorial Chapel, Carlisle Barracks, with The Reverend Canon Mark Scheneman officiating. Military honors
will be presented by the Cumberland County Honor Guard. Fellowship and visitation will immediately follow in the social hall
at the chapel. Inurnment will be private in the St. John's Episcopal Church Columbarium, Carlisle. Ewing Brothers Funeral
Home, Carlisle, is assisting the family with the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project,
4899 Belfort Rd., Ste. 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
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Our
deepest condolences at the recent passing of your father.
His long service and patriotism make our country a better
place.
Randolph Hays
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Nancy, Catherine, Jenny
and Laura,
Deepest condolences.
I understand how difficult this time is for all of you.
From my
children and me.
God's blessings,
June Shomaker
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Please
know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We never had the pleasure of meeting Col. Cortner in person, but knew him through
Jennifer. He gave the blessing of love and was blessed in return by the love of his family.
Pilar Suescum &
Darlene Soltys
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