Marybelle Calhoun Corbett

Marybelle Calhoun Corbett, 93, of 234 South Street, Clarion, died Sunday afternoon, August 22, 2010, at the McKinley Health Center, Brookville. Marybelle, the oldest child of Charles William and Olive Morrison Calhoun, was born on June 30, 1917, at Ashland, OH. In 1920, her father bought a farm near Brockway, PA, and established a dairy. As young girl Marybelle and her sister washed, filled, and capped milk bottles by hand. She began her education at Miller School, a one room country school about a mile from the farm. After completing the eighth grade, she continued her education at Snyder Township High School, graduating in 1935. In the fall of that year she began classes at Clarion State Teacher’s College. She enrolled in the two year program to become an elementary teacher, completing requirements in the spring of 1937. Marybelle began teaching eight grades in one-room rural schools in Jefferson County. After five years, she left the rural school to enroll at The Pennsylvania State College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in home economics. In the spring of 1943, she received her baccalaureate degree. Samuel Paul Corbett of Clarion and Marybelle Calhoun married on August 7, 1943, at the family farm near Brockway. Marybelle continued her career as an educator. She accepted a position at Brockway High School and in 1944 started the home economics program as well as served as the dietician at Big Run High School. She regarded her work at Big Run as one of her most important accomplishments. In 1947, she accepted the home economics teaching position at Clarion-Limestone High School. In 1948, they began their family and three children were born to the couple. In 1954, the Corbetts moved to a new custom-built home on South Street, and Marybelle stayed home to raise their children. In addition, she became active in the Women’s Circle of the First Presbyterian Church, Clarion, as an inveterate 500 player she belonged to two card clubs, and served as president of the Clarion Area High School Band Parents Association. In 1960, she became a second grade teacher at Clarion Area Schools, remaining in that position until her retirement. In May, 1970, Marybelle received her master’s degree from Clarion State College. When Paul retired in 1978, they began traveling to Winter Haven, Florida. In May of 1982, Marybelle retired after accumulating 33 years as a public school teacher. They began spending the winter months in Florida. In March of 1988, Paul died, but Marybelle continued her annual trips to Florida. In May of 2007, while in Clarion, Marybelle suffered a severe stroke. She quickly recovered from many of the effects, but symptoms of dementia/Alzheimer’s Type began to appear. After a seizure in the fall of 2007, her condition declined, and the next year she became a patient at McKinley Health Care Center, Brookville. She passed away on Sunday afternoon, August 22, 2010. Marybelle is survived by two brothers and their wives, Robert and Pat Calhoun and Wayne and Kay Calhoun as well as one sister-in-law, Virginia Calhoun, all of Brockway; two sons and their wives, Bill and Mariam Corbett of Tahlequah, OK, and Scott and Kathy Corbett of Edgemont, SD, and a daughter, Jan Ion of Clarion; seven grandchildren, Brady Ion and wife, Jennifer, Brittany Snavely and husband, Chris, Brynn Ion, Sam and Laura Corbett, Ben and Bradley Corbett; and two great-grandchildren, Reagan Snavely and Lucas Ion. In addition to her parents and husband, two brothers Charles William and Dwight Morrison, and a sister Bonnie Dee Bell preceded her in death. Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, 2010, at the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home in Clarion. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, August 27, 2010, in the funeral home with Rev. Deryl Larsen, pastor of the United Methodist Church, and Rev. Scott Hauser, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will be held in the Clarion Cemetery.

Marybelle Calhoun Corbett

June 30, 1917 - August 22, 2010