GEORGE W. CORBEN

George (Bill) W. Corben, 74, of Olathe, Kan., passed away Wednesday February 22, 2012, from lung cancer and emphysema. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday Feb. 27, at the Penwell- Gabel Funeral Home, Olathe Chapel. Burial will be at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Stanley, Kan. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the funeral home. George was born at home on Jan. 29, 1938, in Anderson, Mo., to George and Mildred (Clark) Corben. He grew up in Anderson, Mo., Desoto, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo. Olathe became his home in 1975. George grew up enjoying trains and was very proud when he was hired as a railway post office worker for KC & Alb Railroad. His route was Kansas City to LaJuanta, Colo., and he took a lot of 8mm footage of his co-workers catching the mail bags off of the poles along the railroad tracks. He was very sad when his job was eliminated. Not long after he found another career that he loved as a civilian Computer Specialist for the United States Marine Corps. This is where he retired from in 1995. After retiring he found himself volunteering for the Salvation Army. George was the President of the last organized Kansas City Railway Mail Group in the nation. George enjoyed his Labor Day weekends volunteering his time discussing and showing his railway memorabilia during Railfans Weekend in Baldwin City, Kan. He also attended and participated in the dedication ceremonies of the Railway Mail Service to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. He is a member of The Olathe Evangelical Covenant Church and recently started going to The Heritage Presbyterian Church in Olathe. A pair of missing/taken shoes at the Apollo Movie Theatre in Kansas City brought him and his soul mate/love of his life, Sharon Kay Huhn together. In their 54 years of marriage they had three children, Bill Jr., Jeff and Cathy husband Charles Flint and four grandchildren, Erika husband Ian Tlasek, Joshua and Jered. He leaves his brother, Richard wife Dona, sister, Margaret husband John Gondring, sister, Linda husband Ruben McCullers, 19 nieces and nephews, 40 plus great and great- great nieces and nephews, countless cousins and a much loved brother-in-law, Bernard Huhn George was an avid gardener, loved to watch and listen to the birds sing in his yard, plant twigs and watch them grow into beautiful trees. He also enjoyed taking the family on vacations and chasing trains. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Salvation Army, www.salvationarmyusa.org. Cheyenne River Indian Outreach, crioutreach.org. The City Union Mission, www.cityunionmission.org, The American Bible Society www.americanbible.org New Beginnings Dog Rescue, www.newbeginningsdogrescue.com or PO Box 25622, Overland Park, KS 66225.