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Harvey B. Corbett was a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who dedicated many years of his life to helping others through many acts of service. Harvey passed away at the age of 76 in Bakersfield, California on January 14, 2021, eight days short of his 77th birthday from complications of stage IV lung cancer and COVID-19.
Harvey served honorably as a Captain in the Air Force and later in life with the Air Force Reserves. His accomplishments are many. He attended Hillside High and James Dudley High in North Carolina. Following his high school years, he obtained a Bachelors at North Carolina A&T in Biology, a Masters in Business Management at Northrop University, and a Juris Doctor of Law at Northrop University. Harvey retired from being a contractual advisor, grant writer, procurement specialist, and court mediator from several institutions including Raytheon Missile Division, University of Kentucky, Hughes Aircraft, Lockheed, U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center, Kern County and Judicial Council of Virginia. His memberships included Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, National Council for University Research Administrators, National Contract Management Association, and Toastmasters International as Area and Division Governor.
An enthusiastic and curious traveler, he took every opportunity to venture out, visiting multiple countries around the world including some of the most remote regions such as Egypt. Harvey was always intellectually ahead of his time and a forward thinker. He was a political activist in his younger years and held many global views. As a proud student of North Carolina A&T, he embraced fraternity life as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and participated in and supported the civil rights efforts of his time, including the Greensboro Woolworth sit-ins. Harvey settled into his final years of life in Bakersfield, California building connections in the professional community through volunteerism. Also known as "Butch" by loved ones, Harvey will be forever remembered for his beautiful smile, gentle eyes, caring heart, loving embrace, unconditional love, and a natural talent for photography. He was a generous father who always took care of his children and did the best he could to teach and guide them. Naturally, he was also a loving grandfather and great-grandfather. Although our hearts are heavy, we will celebrate his life and find comfort that he is in heaven watching over us.
Harvey is survived by his ex-wife, Doris Corbett; his two daughters, Michelle and Danielle Corbett; two granddaughters, Leeya Corbett Loera-Marquez and Lynette Corbett Lorea; grandson-in-law, Rene Marquez; great-grandson, Royce Corbett Loera-Marquez; sister, Naomi Corbett Swan; brother, Joseph Corbett; many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Those who have preceded the deceased are his father, Bennie Corbett; mother, Clara Johnson Corbett; aunt and uncle Bernice and Harvey Johnson; brothers, Bernard Shaw, William Corbett, Charles Corbett, Benjamin Corbett, Wallace Corbett, Lloyd Corbett, Calvin Corbett; sisters, Irene Corbett, Magdalene Corbett, Odessa Corbett, and Mildred Corbett Thompson. The family would like to thank all the health care professionals and wonderful staff from Purpose Driven, Encompass, Rio Bravo and Memorial Hospital for their great care in the last months of his life. Additionally grateful to the volunteers and friends of Toastmasters who formed a brotherhood and sisterhood for him up to his last days; for Donna Corbett in helping to preserve a lasting memory of Harvey; Ron Wehunt and John E. Tuck II and wife Joyce N. Tuck for providing additional support during his days of trials.
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