Philip "Phil" Corson

Philip Forrest Corson, born March 7, 1928 in Fresno, California, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on November 14, 2022.

Currently living in Buhl, with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law for the past four years, Philip, known better as Phil, loved to count the cattle in nearby fields, watch the birds at the feeders outside his window, and spend his days with his wife, Doris, of 70 years.

Phil lived most of his life in California, starting in Susanville, where his father, Carlyle, began the first United States Forest Service (USFS) nursery, growing seedlings for the reforestation of burned and logged areas.  In sixth grade, the family moved to San Francisco for Carlyle’s new position in the USFS Regional Office. Phil graduated from Polytechnic High School in June 1945 and inspired by his father, enrolled in the School of Forestry at the University of Minnesota.  His studies were interrupted shortly after WWII when his father went to Germany to work with the lumber industry, while he and his mother, Apha, traveled to France for six months where he attended the School of Forestry.  Phil later returned to complete his degree at the University of Minnesota.

Soon after graduation, he was inducted into the United States Army Corps of Engineers, applied to Officer Candidate School and later graduated as a First Lieutenant in June 1954.  In the same month, he married the love of his life, Doris Meta Alpers.  Phil and Doris moved to Fort Scott in San Francisco where he drew maps for the Army Corps of Engineers.  He was honorably discharged from the Army and joined the United States Forest Service and moved to his first posting in Quincy, California.  Phil served faithfully in many areas of the Forest Service for thirty-four years until his retirement in 1983 while living at Big Canyon Creek Road, enjoying many volunteer positions in the congregation of First Lutheran Church in Placerville, California.  Because of his continued love for trees, he and Doris then built a residence on a two-acre apple orchard in Camino, California.

Phil became a Certified Master Gardener, caring for a variety of plant life from 1986 to 2000 when they sold the orchard to build a home on Hawkes Landing in Placerville.  In 2018, the home was sold, and they moved to live with their son, Bruce and wife Mary in Buhl, Idaho for the past four years.

Phil was preceded in death by his father, Carlyle William Corson; mother, Apha Roxanna Hurd; brother, Carlyle William II “Bill”; and sister-in-law, Margaret.  Phil is survived by his wife, Doris Alpers; children, Kathleen and Dennis Poehlmann, Bruce and Mary, Glen and Kim, Kevin and Brenda, Elizabeth and Cliff Smith; as well as sixteen grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 25, 2022 at Farmer Funeral Chapel, 130 9th Ave North Buhl, officiated by Phil’s son, Bruce Corson.  Interment will conclude with military honors at the Snake River National Cemetery, 1585 East Elm St. Buhl.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phil’s memory to a charity of your choice.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Phil’s memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.