Birth date: Mar 28, 1923 Death date: Jun 20, 2015
Robert C. Corbett passed away peacefully on June 20, 2015 at the age of 92. Bob was born March 28, 1923 in Tacoma, WA. He was raised in Eatonville on Rapjohn Lake where he assisted his parents as they ran a chicken dinner inn. He Read Obituary
Bob Corbett
I never knew Mr. Bob Corbett directly… for other than a few hellos during encounters at his house while I was in junior high and high school…my knowledge of Mr. Corbett has been tangential or indirect. Stories told by my classmate and longtime friend Bobby Corbett. I would see Mr. Corbett sitting and watching some athletic event in the other room and taking up all that the chair could hold. He wasn’t “fat” as I remember….just a very BIG, strong looking… a “heavyweight” of a man. A friendly face with an engaging smile….and why not…in the nearby kitchen was his wife Norma Jean…. looks as strikingly similar to “Doris Day” as her son Bobby mirrors Robert Redford. Norma came complete with genuine charm and a look of just plain goodness. “Happy to see you” so visible on her face and in the warmth of her greeting to you. Her spotless kitchen never smelled of cleaning products …always smelled of good food. There was instantly an offering of cookies or brownies…though often I was too polite to ask for more than one.
Bob Corbett was a successful logger, a respected logger, a man of the woods, college educated ….who lived in the suburbs, went to Huskies football games and played tennis and golf…with his wife… and enjoyed Stan Boreson cruises ...rather untypical for an axeman….it appears to me. Perhaps a good measure of a woodsman is the legacy of family…the chips off the old block. He leaves his sons…two men of integrity and conviction….Bobby to whom he gave his name but not his physique and Scott, tall and a chainsaw’s master. Both followed dad into the woods with Scott staying as long as Dad wanted to do the business …while Bobby succeeded at other business endeavors. I have to think they learned integrity from the many times they saw their father give his word in the most difficult of circumstances the woods would constantly present. He also leaves a daughter Candy….could there be a more appropriate name for a girl from a mother that radiated such sweetness? Since my high school and college years I have not seen Candy…. and Bobby you would not describe as “gabby” over the years so I apologize to her if this has more a masculine tone.
I have no doubt that had Bob Corbett not outlived so many of his peers…the line for those wishing to show him praise now would be from here…. to the woods he loved so much for so long. A love only eclipsed for the love of his Norma Jean, Bobby, Scott and Candy. As examples of “The Greatest Generation” go it would be hard to find a better example of how to live a successful life. He reminded us in his video….to be healthy …live a happy life. To have a happy life….make time to have fun with those you care for and love. Marry the right partner.
Bob Corbett…a life well lived.
Phil Stamper school mate and lifelong friend of Bobby Corbett
I will never forget the first time I met Bob he needed an employee and thought I could fill the spot. Yes I took the job and there we were boss and employee and then it went on to a great friendship very fast. That started in 1988 worked together for 10 years an we're friends till Bobs passing day. I stopped and we sat and talked two days prior. Bob was such a pleasure then as he was all the years I knew him and every time I've seen him we would relive it all, so much fun to talk to and visit with and just be around. These days will be missed. But we can say that I've known one of the best. Larry and Marsha Christian.
