Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory now and to the day of eternity. 2 Peter 3:18 John Baldwin Corson, 94, retired farmer of Block 1 in Pasco, Washington returned to his heavenly home on September 19, 2017 after a short illness. John was born to the late Marion Jennings and Minnie May (Colliard) Corson, in Glenham, South Dakota on October 21,1922. The second of five rowdy boys, he grew up in Mobridge, South Dakota where he graduated from High School. In June of 1943 John came to the Columbia Basin from a Mobridge, South Dakota farm. He was offered a railroad ticket and a $1.55 per hour job for E.I. DuPont at the Hanford Reservation. There was an option of a return ticket if he stayed for one year! On March 21,1954 John, married Walteen (Cox) at the First Congregational Church in Pasco where John was a youth leader. They were pioneer farmers in the Block 1 Irrigation Project farming 55 acres. In the early years to make ends meet, John custom combined with a Gleaner Baldwin Combine he has always had a fondness for. John had absolute respect for the value of the Columbia River enriching the farmer over time from rill to circle irrigation. Along with John's expertise in raising wheat, corn, beans, peas and potatoes, his greatest agricultural challenge was trying to make a profit. He was a man willing to take calculated risks. He kept overhead costs down by repairing and building his equipment. Along with farming John owned a corn drying business, drying and storing corn to sell to feedlots, as well as a fresh pack potato shed called Golden Produce Company. John's entrepreneurial spirit allowed him to market his own potatoes as he continued to expand his operation. Upon retirement from farming John developed the Court Street Center including the "Splash and Dash" car wash where he was happy to lend a quarter to many. The grandchildren reaped the benefits of counting dollars and quarters with Grandpa happily lining their pockets. John was a strong advocate for the farming industry, the Block One Community and Pasco. He participated on numerous agricultural councils and school committees dedicating skill, knowledge and opportunity to Vocational Education. Raising five children on the Block One farm was a time of teaching the meaning and value of work, lifelong friendships and the ability to roam and dream. As you will find with most men who toil the earth, John was a man of deep faith. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Pasco for thirty years. These past years the West Side Church in Richland has been home to John and Walteen. One of John's greatest joys was to wait at the Sunday School room door as the children filed past, handing out one-dollar bills. A salute to John's break of dawn MacDonald's buddies where they shot the breeze! Faith, family and friends were truly the cornerstone of John's life. John is survived by his loving wife of sixty-three years, Walteen. Five children: Rick Corson (Shanna), Alan Corson (Gail), Marla Thompson (Micheal), Marti Price (Noel), Jon Corson (Natie); thirteen grandchildren: Janae' Hansen (David), Michelle Hansen (Nathan), Shayne Corson (Larry Jones), Jamie Wolcott (Rob), Alissa Wolbach (Jacob), Bethany Alger (Nic), Ashley Bashaw (Jeffrey), Micah Thompson, Vanessa Price, Collin Price, Emily Corson, Ashley Corson, Hailey Corson; twenty-seven great grandchildren; two great, great grandchildren and his brother, Marion (Bud) Corson, cousin Loren Erby, along with numerous nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Warren, Clarence, and George. A memorial service in celebration of John's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 29th at The West Side Church in Richland. A reception will follow in the hall. A private family burial will precede the service. We would like to convey our thanks to Dr. Sharma, Dr. Farrar, along with Traci Burns Repko, John's favorite nurse, who always made him smile. Also, many thanks to the wonderful caregivers from "Home Instead." A special thank you to Pastor Ralph Kieneker and Karel Coppock of West Side Church and the friends who kept John, Walteen and our family in their prayers. In lieu of flowers please donate to the West Side Church or to the Franklin County Historical Society.