Carl A. (Cork) McDanold died peacefully surrounded by his family on November 17, 2019. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 11, 1927 Cork lived a full and wonderful life to the age of 92.

In his early years Cork's family lived in meager, but happy, times during the Great Depression. He and his brother spent summers on their aunt and uncle's farm, camping with their parents, and swimming in the lakes of Michigan. He spent winters skating on frozen ponds and hunting with his father. His father was an upholsterer in a furniture factory and his mother a lover of music, both of which are passions that were passed along to Cork. Cork played the trumpet from an early age and he enjoyed playing in the marching band and symphony during his school years. He met his future wife, Joan, while playing in the band at Ottawa Hills High School.

Cork enlisted in the Army in 1945 and was a veteran of World War II where he earned the rank of corporal. He served in the Pacific Theater and played trumpet in the Army band.

Soon after he returned home from the Army, he married his high school sweetheart, Joan, in 1947. He briefly attended Michigan State University before starting a family. The couple's family grew to four children by 1956. Cork provided years of family adventures in the outdoors, camping, backpacking, hiking, boating and skiing.

He and Joan created homes in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Franklin Village, Michigan before relocating their family to Bellevue, Washington in 1968. Cork and Joan resided in many locations in Washington over the years including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Bainbridge Island and Woodinville. Cork designed and built many of the homes they lived in.

Cork served as a Little League baseball coach, Scoutmaster, and volunteer firefighter. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, bowled on several teams in leagues, played softball and enjoyed a good game of bridge.

Cork built a long career in communications where he was a pioneer in computer programming writing payroll systems as an expert on mainframe computers and retired after 36 years of service. Cork worked for Michigan Bell, Pacific Northwest Bell, AT&T, Qwest and retired from CenturyLink. After retirement he and Joan spent two years living in American Samoa where Cork worked as a contractor for the US government managing their computer accounting systems.

During 35 years of retirement Cork and Joan enjoyed extensive travel through the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia including six years as full time RVers and three years as snowbirds in Arizona. The couple eventually made Arizona their permanent home where Cork played softball and innumerable rounds of golf. Cork and Joan then moved to Anacortes, Washington in 2015 to be closer to family.

Cork will always be remembered as an outdoorsman, hunter, archer, boater, sailor, musician, architect, woodworker, carpenter, builder, DIYer, and in recent years a self-taught artist working with acrylic paint. He was a lifelong learner, problem solver and loved watching baseball on television. But, most of all, Cork will be remembered as a devoted family man.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, son, and granddaughter. He is survived by his wife of 72 years; three children and their spouses, daughter-in-law, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express their gratitude and appreciation to the team at Hospice NW and Cork's caregivers for their compassionate help.

To share memories of Cork, please sign the online guestbook at https://www.evanschapel.com/obituary/carl-mcdanold