Robert Samuel Corbett Sr.

COLUMBIA - Funeral Services for Brigadier General Robert S. Corbett, Sr. (Ret) will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at Lexington Baptist Church Worship Center with interment in Lexington Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, February 21, 2011, at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel.

General Corbett was born and raised in Columbia, SC, a son of Samuel B. and Cecil Corbett. He graduated from University High, a multi-sport athlete and American Legion baseball player, then began his civilian career at Southern Bell Telephone Company. He joined the Army Air Corp and earned his commission and wings in 1942, and married the former Eleanor Hargrove Cox before deployment for active duty. He served as a fighter pilot in Panama and in the Pacific Campaign during World War II, flying P38 and P39 fighter aircraft, and later in the Korean War flying F86 aircraft, also P51 aircraft in peacetime.

General Corbett was an Air National Guard flight squadron commander and McEntire Airbase Group commander for many years. He regularly served as an active duty alert pilot and flight leader in the F102 Delta Wing and F104 Starfighter jets. He was recognized for his exceptional flight maneuvering skills in both active combat and peacetime exercises. He returned to full time active duty during the Cuban Crisis as commander of the McEntire flight group deployed to Spain. He retired from military service with the rank of Brigadier General in 1974.

Mr. Corbett's civilian career with Southern Bell consisted of a total of 39 years of service. He held a variety of positions in the company, and retired as Area Training Manager in 1979. He was a life-long member and supporter of the Baptist Church and had been an active member of Lexington Baptist for many years. He was a loving husband to his beloved wife, Eleanor, for almost 64 years, and a treasured father and friend to his family. He was a skilled carpenter and enjoyed home projects, automobiles, nature, animals, current events and sports, as well as visiting and 'story telling.'

Surviving are daughter, Eleanor Lynn Corbett of Lexington; son, Robert S. Corbett, II and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Corbett of Greenville; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ford T. Cox and Mr. and Mrs. J. Ben Cox of Columbia; sister-in-law, Martha C. Wenger of White Rock; two granddaughters; a great-grandson; twin great-granddaughters; Greta the Cat, and brothers and sisters' in Christ.

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.net