Bill R. Corbell

Bill had a tragic fall at his home on Christmas Eve, 2008. Instead of celebrating our traditional Christmas Eve with family, we all met at Brackenridge Trauma Unit where we learned Bill had suffered a severe head injury. He met the challenges of the next one year and eight months with dignity, determination, even some humor, but always with hope and a strong faith in God.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith.”

II Timothy 4:7

Bill R. Corbell, a native Austinite, was called to his Eternal home on August 13, 2010 at the age of 79, six days before his 80th birthday. He was born to N.C. and Opal Corbell on August 19, 1930 in Austin, Texas. He graduated from Austin High School in 1948, attended the University of Texas and completed courses in Accounting, Auditing and Business Law from a local business school. He met Rose Adair Samuelson on a blind date in 1950 and fell in love with her. He said, he knew the night he met her that he wanted to marry her. They began dating immediately and were married one year later on November 21, 1951 at the historic Gethsemane Lutheran Church located at 16th and Congress Avenue.

Bill was drafted into the Army during the Korean conflict. He attended the Army OCS and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry. After his discharge from four years of active duty service and his return to Austin, he joined the Texas Army National Guard and retired after 20 years of duty as a Lieutenant Colonel. Most of his civilian career involved Governmental Purchasing. He was a Senior Buyer for the State of Texas for approximately 19 years. During this time period, he became professionally certified as a Certified Public Purchasing Officer and as a Certified Purchasing Manager. After retiring from the State, he began a second career as Manager of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Commodity/Services Code. He continued in this service for over 18 years. He was awarded Lifetime Certifications as a CPPO and as a C.P.M. by two National Purchasing Organizations. In August 2002, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing at its national conference in Portland, Oregon.

During their 58 years and nine months of marriage, Bill and Adair traveled extensively throughout the United States and into many other countries. They were both very active members of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church for almost 60 years. Bill served in many leadership positions and a variety of ministries and organizations for many, many years.

He was a loving and caring husband to his wife Adair, a loving father to his sons Rick and Kent, and a loving grandfather to his six grandchildren. Bill could find something funny in almost any situation. His humor and special charisma was enjoyed by all who knew him but especially by his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers Bob and Don Corbell, and his daughter-in-law Michelle Corbell.

Bill is survived by his adoring wife Adair, son Rick and wife Joyce of Houston, Kent and wife Clarissa of San Antonio, grandchildren Eric, Stefanie and Michael Corbell of Houston, Kimberly Corbell of Austin, step-grandchildren Crystal and Charlene Alsip of San Antonio, brother-in-law David Samuelson and wife Marcia of San Angelo, two aunts and several cousins.

Honoring him as pallbearers, will be Eric Corbell, Michael Corbell, David Samuelson, Forrest Simonton, Ace Hopkins, Don Swenson, Johnie Hodnett, and Karrell Johnson.

His family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the staff, skilled nurses Sam, Nita, Lisa, Ben and aides Tristen, Robert, William, Sylvia and Rebecca, and therapist Montgomery for their compassion and expertise at Emeritus (Brighton Gardens), and all others who were responsible for his care. We also sincerely thank Heart to Heart Hospice for their loving care for Bill and his family in the last few weeks. The faithful and constant ministry and many many visits from Pastor Karl Gronberg are so very much appreciated, as well as the spiritual support from Pastor Kent Bohls, Pastor Susan Schnelle and our Gethsemane Lutheran congregation.

Visitation will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home in Austin on Friday, August 20, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 200 W. Anderson Lane Austin, Texas, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2010 with Pastor Karl Gronberg officiating. Burial will be at Cook-Walden Capital Parks in Pflugerville immediately following the service. A reception will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church following interment.

Memorials may be given to Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Bill’s name.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.