Voss & Sons Funeral Service
Philip Laugel Cordes Jr., 95, passed away peacefully at Autumn Trace of Seymour in the early morning hours of Friday, February 28, 2025. Phil was born in Seymour on May 27, 1929, the only child of Philip L. Cordes Sr. and Marjorie (Phillips) Cordes.
The first ten years of his schooling were in the Seymour public schools. He graduated from Kentucky Military Institute (KMI) in 1947 where he played on the school's basketball and golf teams. The KMI 1946-1947 basketball team was undefeated in 21 games, a school record. He won the KMI Rod Pruitt Golf Tourney in 1947. His education was furthered at Hanover College, from where he graduated in 1951. While at Hanover, Phil became a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played on the school's first varsity golf team. Upon graduating from Hanover, Phil joined the US Air Force Reserves and took a two-year tour of active duty. During that time, he completed the Air Force Photo Intelligence school at Lowery AFB in Denver, CO. From there he was assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Technical Squadron at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, LA. Upon his discharge from the Air Force in 1954, Phil became associated with the family business, Cordes Hardware Company in Seymour, where he continued until the store closed in 1969. Phil then became the District Administrative Manager of the Seymour District of the Indiana State Highway Commission. In 1972 he accepted the position of Controller at the hospital then known as Jackson County Schneck Memorial Hospital in Seymour; and he retired from this position in 1994.
Phil and Sandy spent 24 winters in Ft. Myers, FL. Through the years, Phil has served as Deacon and Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Seymour. He served in all offices of the Seymour Rotary Club during his 15 years of membership with perfect attendance. He is a past Exalted Ruler of the Seymour Elks Lodge of which he has been a member for over 50 years. He also served as president of the Seymour Numismatic Club. In 1966 he published a book, "The History and Family Tree of Henry and Wilhelmina Cordes." After his retirement he rekindled his interest in genealogy and continued researching and recording the histories and family trees of several of his ancestors.
Phil is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra J. (Heyne) Cordes of Seymour; sons, Kevin (Vedette) Cordes of St. Joseph, MI, and Kyle (Dr. Susan) Cordes of Stockton, CA; grandchildren, Kiersten Cordes Jones of Fort Myers, FL, Katrina and Konrad Cordes of St. Joseph, MI; and great grandchildren, Indiana and Felicity Jones of Fort Myers, FL.
He is preceded in death by his parents, listed above; and one son, Todd Cordes.
Funeral services for Phil will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Voss and Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, 316 North Chestnut Street, Seymour. Rev. Scott Hookey, First Presbyterian Church of Seymour, will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Phil will be laid to rest immediately following at Riverview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Phil's honor may be made out to the First Presbyterian Church of Seymour or to Schneck Hospice. You are invited to visit our website, vossfuneralservice.com, to leave condolences, order flowers, or share a memory.
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