Blanche was born in Wilmington, NC on August 5, 1927 to Russell Elwood Reynolds of Bombay, NY and Blanche Chadbourn Bolles of Wilmington, NC. When Blanche was two days old, her mother died and she was adopted by her great-grandmother, Blanche Hinkley King Chadbourn. After Grannie Chadbourn’s death, Blanche went to live with Grannie’s daughter, Frances Chadbourn Stanley and her husband, Dr. Jasper W. Stanley. She remained with them until her marriage to Bernard Augustus Corbett, Jr, also of Wilmington. Bernie was her high school sweetheart and the love of her life. She always felt she was pretty lucky to have snagged “Hap” as she always called him. Their marriage was blessed with three precious children, Vicki Chadbourn Corbett Scott, Dr. Bernard Augustus Corbett, III (Patty) and Frances Clinton Corbett; grandchildren - Courtney Scott Baker (Mark), Michael Scott (Diana), Kati Scott Birchwood (Jason), Kristi Corbett,
Dr. Christopher Corbett (Beth), Michael Corbett (Callie) and Jonathan Corbett (Nikki); great-grandchildren - Jasmyn, Rylie, Aydan, Jacob, Kieran, Isiah, Noelle, Ella, Max, Annelise, Olivia, Conner, Evan and Emmalie; step-great-grandchildren - Cory and Malori; great-great-grandchildren Trenten, and Caroline and “adopted” daughter, Kathy Stewart. Blanche is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Jan Reynolds Armstrong (Ken, deceased) and Mrs. Ruth Reynolds Harodt (Lutz, deceased).
After graduation from high school, Hap joined the Air Force and was sent to Wiesbaden, Germany, where Blanche was able to join him. They lived there until 1948. When they came back to the States, Hap entered college at Wilmington College. He then transferred to NCSU, where he graduated with degrees in Civil Engineering and Traffic Engineering.
After moving to Charlotte, Blanche worked for First Union (later Wachovia, then Wells Fargo) for 18 years until she retired at 55 as head teller of the Charlotte Office. Because she and Hap had been camping since the children were in diapers, they decided to buy a travel trailer and see more than just the Smokies! They spent the next four summers traveling to Nova Scotia where they found a lovely campground on St. Margaret’s Bay. They enjoyed great fishing and even better fellowship. Then they decided to make the “Big One Trip” and spent three months in Alaska fishing, clamming, sightseeing, even seeing 35 brown bears in ONE day.
Blanche once caught a 155 lb. halibut, whose stuffed trophy still hangs on her den wall. The Alaska trip was one of her biggest “life highlights“. Blanche and Hap made a second trip to Alaska on a Land Sea Cruise.
After they had to give up camping because of health reasons, another of the “life highlights” for Blanche was to spend the month of October at her son Bernie’s ocean front cottage on Holden Beach. Nothing could replace the front porch rocking chair where she watched the dolphins play and the sea birds dive and swoop. It was a sad day when she could no longer climb the stairs.
Blanche loved the Lord from her early childhood when she used to escape to her “hidey hole” in Grandfather Chadbourn’s library. There she would read his collection of books of the Bible. (She mostly enjoyed the pictures). She always said she would grow up to be a medical missionary, but the Lord had other plans for her. He sent Hap into her life and that was the best thing He could have done for her. Hap always said she WAS a medical missionary as she raised his three children by tending their wounds and teaching them to love the Lord. She was always active in her church as a Sunday School teacher, Youth Fellowship Leader, Circle Bible Leader, Disciple Leader, Girl Scout Leader, and Elder. Her most honored time was when she was awarded Woman of the Year in the Presbyterian Church. Since she could no longer do these things because of her health, she made it her mission to send cards for ALL occasions. She got a lot of pleasure from this and hoped she brought joy to those who received her cards.
She leaves a message to all those who love her and that is: “Please miss me, but don’t grieve for me. You cannot imagine what a beautiful place to which I have gone. You cannot imagine the joy I am experiencing being with my Lord whom I love with all my heart. I will also be reuniting with my beloved Hap, for all eternity. Enjoy your own lives and join me here someday! I love you all so much and thank you for the happiness you brought to my life. God bless you all.”
A memorial service will be held at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church on January 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Jeff Pinkston officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Salvation Army or Samaritan’s Purse.
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