His prolific writing career led to a final residence at Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara where he died on June 11, 1956.
This was followed a year later by his first and most successful novel, Fig Tree John, based on a Cahuilla Indian from southern California.
In addition to other novels, Corle also wrote non-fiction, including books on the Grand Canyon and the Gila River.
The work was left uncompleted upon his death and is included in his extensive papers, letters and manuscripts donated by Ralph B. Sipper of Santa Barbara to Indiana University in 1997.
For many years the Library of the University of California at Santa Barbara has sponsored an Edwin and Jean Corle Lecture Series.