Lee Corder
Lee Roy Corder, Jr., age 59, of Middletown, Ohio, passed away leaving behind a legacy of educational leadership, community service, and a passion for bringing people together through the art of barbecue.
Born on November 29, 1966, in Cambridge, Ohio, Lee was the son of the late Lee Roy Corder Sr. and Mary (Mathews) Corder. His journey in education began at Ohio University, where he earned his B.S. in Education and later a Master’s in Educational Leadership.
Lee’s career was marked by a deep commitment to student success. He began his teaching journey at Meadowbrook High School in Byesville before traveling west to teach on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. Upon returning to Ohio, he transitioned into administration, serving with distinction at East Clinton, Lakota Local, and Madison Local School Districts.
The cornerstone of his professional life was his 18-year tenure at Butler Tech, where he most recently served as the Director of Schools before retiring in August 2025. Beyond the hallways of his schools, Lee also served as the State Advisor for the Ohio Technology Student Association (TSA) for four years, mentoring the next generation of technical leaders.
Lee’s heart was often found in the kitchen or behind a smoker. A lifelong lover of cooking, he turned a hobby into a community staple by co-founding the CW BBQ food truck with his close friend, Joe Workman. He was most at home operating his 84-inch Lang smoker, perfecting his brisket, and serving others—whether it was the local fire department or classmates at a reunion. To Lee, food was more than a meal; it was a way to show love and build community.
Lee shared 27 loving years of marriage with his wife, Carrie (Windau) Corder, whom he married on November 21, 1998. Together, they had two wonderful daughters and built a life centered on family and service.
He is survived by his wife, Carrie Corder; his daughters: Grace Corder and Lillian (Logan) Plaugher; his brothers: David Corder of Lore City and Jeff Wagner of Zanesville; his parents-in-law, Michael and Susan Windau; his sister-in-law, Linsey (Matt) Hail; and his nephews: Ben and Beau Hail.
The Corder family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to nurses Elisabeth and Megan, Dr. Zang, Dr. Long, as well as the entire staff at The Christ Hospital Oncology ~ Montgomery. The kindness, patience, and patient-focused care provided by the Christ Hospital system were a source of great comfort during a difficult time.
Per Lee’s wishes, cremation was chosen. A celebration of his life will be held at Lori’s Road House located at 4924 Union Centre Pavilion Suite B, West Chester Township, OH 45069 on Saturday, February 28 from 1:00 to 4:00 with a Remembrance Gathering beginning at 1:30.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Lee Corder Culinary Scholarship Fund at Hamilton Community Foundation ℅ The Lee Corder Culinary Scholarship Fund, 319 N 3rd St, Hamilton, OH 45011.
