Corky Capps

Corky Capps
July 23, 1929 – Feb. 21, 2023
Lt. Colonel William Rudolph “Corky” Capps, 93, died Feb. 21, 2023 in Gulfport. Funeral services were at Trinity United Methodist Church Feb. 27, 2023, with Rev. Dr. Jeff Switzer and Rev. Robert McCormick officiating, interment at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Tylertown with military honors.
Capps was born July 23, 1929, in Hickman, KY, the son of Douglas Ross Capps and Mary Elizabeth Martin Capps. He is preceded in death by his parents, a son, William Ross Capps, and a wife, Jean Baldwin Capps. He is survived by his wife, Rachael Johnson Capps, stepson Don Johnson, grandson Jeffrey M. Capps (Christy), Step granddaughter, two great grandchildrens.
On Sept. 23, 1948 Corky joined the US Marine Corps and was discharged 2 years after serving his country. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he was a signatory of the charter establishing the Delta Sigma Pi chapter and a cheerleader. After graduating from USM in 1948, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army where he served for 25 years.
Upon retirement from the Army, Capps and his family returned to Tylertown and joined the family business, Capps Funeral Home, established by his father, Douglas Ross Capps. Corky owned and was the director of the funeral home for 25 years, retiring in 1998. He became a pilot and flew to see family and friends across the U.S.
After retirement he and his wife moved to Gulfport where they were visibly active in many coastal organization; Trinity United Methodist Church, Rotary and the Gulf Coast Symphony Guild were most dear to him. His wife, Jean, died in November 2002.
In 2005 Capps married the former Mrs. Rachael Stokes Johnson and they continued to support the community. They enjoyed traveling abroad.
Pallbearers were his nephews and grandson. Douglas R Capps, James Steven Lampton, Leslie Lee Lampton, William Robert Capps, Kent Thomas Capps, and Jeffrey Michael Capps.
Capps Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. An online guestbook may be signed at www.hartmanhughesfuneralhome.com