Bernard A. Corbett Jr.

Bernard Augustus Corbett, Jr. age 84 of Charlotte passed away January 11, 2012 at Presbyterian Hospital. He was a survivor of lung cancer. He had been ill for some time with emphysema. Service will be held at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, 7407 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte. Interment will be private in Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery. There will be a reception in the Lewis Bledsoe Family Life Center after the service. Memorials may be sent to Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at the above address.

Bernie is survived by his wife Blanche, of 66 years; daughter Vicki C. Scott, a school teacher in Andrews, SC; his son Dr. Bernie Corbett, III, an emergency room physician in Greenville, SC and wife Patty; a daughter Clinton, the caregiver of her parents and an artist, and adopted “daughter”, Kathy Stewart; 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and more on the way; and 2 step-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Robert P. Corbett in Wilmington, NC and several nieces and nephews.

Bernie grew up in Wilmington. He was married to his wife, Blanche Bolles Reynolds, when he graduated from high school. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to Weisbaden, Germany, as a member of the United States Air Force. Blanche joined him there and they lived in Germany for 2 1/2 years. During that time, he and Blanche traveled in Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.

Upon his discharge, he enrolled in then Wilmington College, now UNCW, which at that time was a two-year college. He then transferred to NC State, where his major was Civil Engineering, graduating in 1950. He then returned to NCS to earn a graduate degree as Transportation Engineer.

In 1953, he was employed by the city of Burlington, NC, where he served as Traffic Engineer until 1956. His next move was to Charlotte NC, where he was Assistant Traffic Engineer until he was promoted to Director of the Department of Transportation, a position he held until his retirement in 1982. He was a Registered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Traffic Engineers.

When retired, he and Blanche purchased a travel trailer and traveled extensively in 49 states and Canada, including a 3 ½ month, 17,000 mile trip to Alaska. They also made a 4-month long trip to Nova Scotia and camped on St. Margaret’s Bay near Peggy’s Cove. His favorite place, however, was his son Bernie’s and daughter-in-law’s house at Holden Beach, where he could sit on the front porch and watch the dolphins and sea birds, and sometimes catch some fish.

In 1960, he joined Steele Creek Presbyterian Church where he served as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher for 20 years, Disciple Leader, Boy Scout Troup Leader, and Committee Member and Youth Fellowship Leader for 10 years.

Bernie loved to garden and he and Blanche shared the fruits of his labors by freezing and canning vegetables (mostly green beans and tomatoes) making pickles, freezing peaches, strawberries and other fruits, making jelly, and sharing the plenty with neighbors and friends.

He was an avid grower of azaleas and gave away hundreds that he grew from cuttings that he nursed in a small green house behind the main house.

He also loved to fish in the pond near his house and anywhere else he thought he might get a bite. He was out-fished in Alaska by Blanche when she caught a 155-pound halibut. She couldn’t touch him, however, when he fished for large-mouth bass in Sockeye salmon.

He was a participant in the design of the Freeway and Major Thoroughfare that the Charlotte citizens are riding on today. Bernie specialized in Traffic Signal Application and was a participant in the Reversible Lane Signal System used on East Fourth Street prior to its being widened. Offer condolences through www.forestlawnwest.com (704)395-0055