Kevin Andrew Corkins
Bristol
Kevin Andrew Corkins, 75, passed away Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.
He was born March 30, 1951, in Burlington, the son of George and Jessie Mae Corkins.
From an early age, Kevin worked hard to provide for his family. He got his start by buying and fixing up thousands cars for resale, co-owned the Bristol Creemee Stand and a number of gas stations with his brothers, and ultimately found his calling teaching Power Mechanics and Welding at Stafford Technical Center in Rutland. There, he helped many young men earn certifications and develop the skills they needed to build careers and one day provide for families of their own. Kevin believed in helping others, and he lived out that generosity throughout his life.
Kevin had many notable accomplishments, including being named Vermont Teacher of the Year, learning to walk, bike, and swim after losing his right leg, and placing first in the Bristol Outhouse Races. He received his Bachelors degree in History from the University of Vermont and maintained a CDL for many years.
He served as Chairman of the Bristol Elementary School Board, member of the Greenwood Cemetery Association, Bristol Justice of the Peace, and on the Bristol Town Board of Adjustment & Planning, as well as Bristol representative to Addison County Regional Planning Association.
Kevin enjoyed restoring old cars, renovating and building houses, flower gardening, planting trees, working out, following the Red Sox, visiting minor league baseball stadiums, traveling, history and simply sitting on his porch.
Kevin is survived by his daughter, Jessie-Ruth Corkins; his stepdaughter, Tamara Lanham, her husband, Jason, and their children, Nora, Nolan, and Noel; his brothers, Douglas Corkins and his twin brother, Keith Corkins; his sisters, LaNell Corkins DeCosta and Christine DuBois, and Christine’s husband, Andre DuBois; as well as his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, at Greenwood Cemetery in Bristol. A celebration of Kevin’s life will follow at noon at his home, 73 Liberty Street, Bristol, Vermont.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you plant a tree in Kevin’s memory. He especially loved maple, cherry, and oak trees.
2 Responses
My brother was a complicated man. He was very intelligent and could be very private. He endured much in his life, as did his sister’s and brothers. He lived a very active life even though there were complications. He was a very creative man and artistic in his own way. He made a beautiful cradle for my wedding present. It was made from cherry wood. My children used it after they were born until they were old enough for a crib. I passed that beautiful piece of craftsmanship onto his daughter. He also loved cars and building things like houses. Kevin was a pillar in the community and highly respected. He will be greatly missed. I take comfort in knowing he is in heaven with my mother and father.
I knew Kevin a long time ago and we became great friends and reconnected some years ago on social media. I teased Kevin repeatedly about never really “letting loose” and that I would love to see a really big smile. He had a typical Kevin comment that you had to appreciate if you knew him.
He helped me out after I lost family members in 2017 with pictures of their headstones from Greenwood and scolded me as somebody had left a jar of some kind of food that my stepmother had been known to enjoy. He properly disposed of it after warning me of the potential dangers to groundskeepers. I too, properly apologized.
I had dreams of more of a relationship when I was “back in my youth” but life takes over and I moved away, but did catch up with Kevin now and then on my visits back-east.
He was a great guy when I knew him and it looks like he made a great life for himself; full of service, loving family and a quiet zest for life that I’m glad to know I was able to see. My sympathies go out to all his family anf friends. I am sure he will be fondly and lovingly remembered for a long time to come.