Ray Wilburn

Corbin

-
image description
IN LOVING MEMORY

Ray Wilburn Corbin

Aug 20 1923 - Dec 26 2015

Ray W. Corbin, Sr., age 92, of McKinney, Texas died peacefully in his sleep at Belterra Living Center in McKinney on December 26, 2015. He was born to Grady and Ruth Corbin near Coppell, Texas, on the family farm, a part of which is Valley Ranch Today. From there, his family moved to the Texas Panhandle. Ray spent his childhood years on the family ranch which bordered the rim of the Palo Duro Canyon. He graduated from Claude High School and continued his career in farming and ranching. He married Cora Etta Fox on June 5, 1943. They had two children: Linda Corbin and Ray W. Corbin, Jr. Several years of their marriage were spent on their family farm in Krum, Texas where their children grew up and attended school. Ray continued his career as a farmer and dairy operator. He was awarded the Denton County Farmer of the Month in May, 1961.

He was active on boards and in leadership positions of several dairy associations and co-ops. Throughout his children’s school years, Ray was actively involved in their endeavors. He served as a parent sponsor for 4-H and Future Farmers of America activities and helped his children prepare their champion show cattle for their competition in fairs and rodeos. In the early to mid-1950s, Ray was involved in amateur rodeo activities as a hobby. His specialty was calf roping. After he quit actively participating in rodeos, he continued to follow professional participants in the rodeo circuit and rarely missed watching the activities on TV. This was a major interest until his death. The Corbins lived in Krum from 1954 to 1965, when they moved to Denton where Ray was Sales Manager at Banner Chevrolet until 1975 when he and Cora Etta retired and moved to Cedar Creek Lake where Ray spent time involved in some of his favorite hobbies of fishing, boating, and gardening. Then in 1985, the couple moved to Merit, Texas, to continue their retirement years. There they resided for 27 years until their health and age dictated that they downsize and move to a senior apartment. In 2011, Ray and Cora Etta moved to the Chateau in McKinney.

After Cora Etta’s death in 2011, Ray continued living at the Chateau until he suffered a broken leg in September, 2015. After that incident, he lived at Belterra Living Center until his death. When the Corbins moved to the Chateau, Ray became immediately involved in their activities. He continually organized groups to play dominoes and other games and was instrumental in securing various entertainment groups for appearances in Chateau programming.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years Cora Etta Fox Corbin; his parents; one sister, Lucille Holley of Krum, Texas; and brother, Robert Corbin of Decatur, Texas.

Surviving Ray are daughter, Linda Corbin, of McKinney; and son, Ray W. Corbin, Jr., and his wife Carolyn Pitts Corbin of Melissa. Ray was a member of Merit Baptist Church. Throughout his life, Ray never met a stranger. His home was always open to guests and was filled with the warmth of welcoming hospitality. Ray W. Corbin was one-of-a-kind. He always met people with a smile and took special interest in everyone who crossed his path.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Hurst’s Fielder Baker Funeral Home in Farmersville, Texas. Rev. Eddie Singleton will officiate. Visitation will be held from Noon to service time before the funeral service. Interment will follow in the Merit Cemetery.   Hurst’s Fielder Baker Funeral Home in Farmersville, Texas is in charge of arrangements.

image description

Memorials

absolute-header