My grandfather wrote his own biography:
Ken Corbett was born and raised in Ottumwa, IA and spent most of his life there. Ken graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1941.
Ken worked at John Morrell & Co. until he entered the service in December 1942.
Ken enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was sent to Kearns Field, UT for basic training and then on to Montana State University for college training to be a pilot in the Air Force. During his time in Missoula, MT he met his future wife, Rosemary Rhoades. From Montana he was sent to Santa Ana, CA for more pilot training. Due to a shortage of bombardiers, Ken was ordered to switch training and he refused and grounded his self. From there he went to Amarillo, TX for B-17 school and to Chanute Field, IL and switched again to B-29 Power Plant School. Ken was then assigned to the 871st Squadron of the 20th Air Force, an all B-29 group.
His squadron trained at Pratt Field, KS and flew practice missions to Cuba, New Orleans, LA; Clovis, NM; and several points in California. Ken's squadron joined 11 other squadrons to form a wing which was to be based on Saipan Island in the Pacific. Ken's duties included being a power plant specialist and later a crew chief on B-29s that flew 44 combat missions to Japan and 3 prisoner of war supply drops during World War II.
Ken was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, KS on Dec 22, 1945 and headed home to Ottumwa.
Ken and Rosemary were married on July 7, 1946 in Ottumwa and spent a 3 week honeymoon in Minnesota.
Ken went to the Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) and earned a B.A. degree in October 1949.
Besides working at John Morrell, Ken also had jobs as a driving instructor, real estate professional, and worked at John Deere as a steel buyer and expediter. Ken finally began his teaching career in Aug 1953 in West Bend, IA. The following year both Ken and Rosemary were offered jobs with the Ottumwa Community School District and stayed until Ken retired in 1985 and Rosemary in 1986.
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Obituary from Ottumwa Courier, date unknown
Kenneth L. Corbett, 82, of 213 E. Woodland, died October 28, 2005 at home.
He was born August 6, 1923 in Ottumwa to Lloyd S. and Hazel M. Barcus Corbett. He married Rosemary Rhoades July 7, 1946.
A graduate of Ottumwa High School in 1941, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II from 1942-1945 B-29 Saipan 73rd Bomb Wing-Power Plant Specialist. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1949, with graduate work at UNI, ISU and General Motors Institute. He taught Auto Mechanics at Ottumwa High School from 1954-1985.
He was a member of the First Christian Church, Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars, O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion, and American Federation of Teachers. He was past president of the Iowa Federation of Teachers, and vice president of the Ottumwa Labor Council. He coached Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball and was an adult advisor for the Boy Scouts.
Surviving is his wife; a daughter, Tana J. Corbett of Ottumwa; a son, Rick L. (Mari-Kay) Corbett of Oskaloosa; two grandchildren, Sara (Shawn) Cross and David Corbett both of Oskaloosa; two great-grandchildren, De'Shawn Cross and Deon'tae Cross; two sisters, Elaine (Robert) Connell of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Connie (James) Craig of Oak Lawn, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Grace.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Reece Funeral Home with Rec. Bill Kanne officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Township Cemetery at Fremont with military services conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Monday with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday.
Memorials have been established to First Christian Church or Ottumwa Public Library.
Ken Corbett was born and raised in Ottumwa, IA and spent most of his life there. Ken graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1941.
Ken worked at John Morrell & Co. until he entered the service in December 1942.
Ken enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was sent to Kearns Field, UT for basic training and then on to Montana State University for college training to be a pilot in the Air Force. During his time in Missoula, MT he met his future wife, Rosemary Rhoades. From Montana he was sent to Santa Ana, CA for more pilot training. Due to a shortage of bombardiers, Ken was ordered to switch training and he refused and grounded his self. From there he went to Amarillo, TX for B-17 school and to Chanute Field, IL and switched again to B-29 Power Plant School. Ken was then assigned to the 871st Squadron of the 20th Air Force, an all B-29 group.
His squadron trained at Pratt Field, KS and flew practice missions to Cuba, New Orleans, LA; Clovis, NM; and several points in California. Ken's squadron joined 11 other squadrons to form a wing which was to be based on Saipan Island in the Pacific. Ken's duties included being a power plant specialist and later a crew chief on B-29s that flew 44 combat missions to Japan and 3 prisoner of war supply drops during World War II.
Ken was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, KS on Dec 22, 1945 and headed home to Ottumwa.
Ken and Rosemary were married on July 7, 1946 in Ottumwa and spent a 3 week honeymoon in Minnesota.
Ken went to the Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) and earned a B.A. degree in October 1949.
Besides working at John Morrell, Ken also had jobs as a driving instructor, real estate professional, and worked at John Deere as a steel buyer and expediter. Ken finally began his teaching career in Aug 1953 in West Bend, IA. The following year both Ken and Rosemary were offered jobs with the Ottumwa Community School District and stayed until Ken retired in 1985 and Rosemary in 1986.
*******************************
Obituary from Ottumwa Courier, date unknown
Kenneth L. Corbett, 82, of 213 E. Woodland, died October 28, 2005 at home.
He was born August 6, 1923 in Ottumwa to Lloyd S. and Hazel M. Barcus Corbett. He married Rosemary Rhoades July 7, 1946.
A graduate of Ottumwa High School in 1941, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II from 1942-1945 B-29 Saipan 73rd Bomb Wing-Power Plant Specialist. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1949, with graduate work at UNI, ISU and General Motors Institute. He taught Auto Mechanics at Ottumwa High School from 1954-1985.
He was a member of the First Christian Church, Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars, O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion, and American Federation of Teachers. He was past president of the Iowa Federation of Teachers, and vice president of the Ottumwa Labor Council. He coached Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball and was an adult advisor for the Boy Scouts.
Surviving is his wife; a daughter, Tana J. Corbett of Ottumwa; a son, Rick L. (Mari-Kay) Corbett of Oskaloosa; two grandchildren, Sara (Shawn) Cross and David Corbett both of Oskaloosa; two great-grandchildren, De'Shawn Cross and Deon'tae Cross; two sisters, Elaine (Robert) Connell of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Connie (James) Craig of Oak Lawn, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Grace.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Reece Funeral Home with Rec. Bill Kanne officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Township Cemetery at Fremont with military services conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Monday with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday.
Memorials have been established to First Christian Church or Ottumwa Public Library.
My grandfather wrote his own biography:
Ken Corbett was born and raised in Ottumwa, IA and spent most of his life there. Ken graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1941.
Ken worked at John Morrell & Co. until he entered the service in December 1942.
Ken enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was sent to Kearns Field, UT for basic training and then on to Montana State University for college training to be a pilot in the Air Force. During his time in Missoula, MT he met his future wife, Rosemary Rhoades. From Montana he was sent to Santa Ana, CA for more pilot training. Due to a shortage of bombardiers, Ken was ordered to switch training and he refused and grounded his self. From there he went to Amarillo, TX for B-17 school and to Chanute Field, IL and switched again to B-29 Power Plant School. Ken was then assigned to the 871st Squadron of the 20th Air Force, an all B-29 group.
His squadron trained at Pratt Field, KS and flew practice missions to Cuba, New Orleans, LA; Clovis, NM; and several points in California. Ken's squadron joined 11 other squadrons to form a wing which was to be based on Saipan Island in the Pacific. Ken's duties included being a power plant specialist and later a crew chief on B-29s that flew 44 combat missions to Japan and 3 prisoner of war supply drops during World War II.
Ken was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, KS on Dec 22, 1945 and headed home to Ottumwa.
Ken and Rosemary were married on July 7, 1946 in Ottumwa and spent a 3 week honeymoon in Minnesota.
Ken went to the Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) and earned a B.A. degree in October 1949.
Besides working at John Morrell, Ken also had jobs as a driving instructor, real estate professional, and worked at John Deere as a steel buyer and expediter. Ken finally began his teaching career in Aug 1953 in West Bend, IA. The following year both Ken and Rosemary were offered jobs with the Ottumwa Community School District and stayed until Ken retired in 1985 and Rosemary in 1986.
*******************************
Obituary from Ottumwa Courier, date unknown
Kenneth L. Corbett, 82, of 213 E. Woodland, died October 28, 2005 at home.
He was born August 6, 1923 in Ottumwa to Lloyd S. and Hazel M. Barcus Corbett. He married Rosemary Rhoades July 7, 1946.
A graduate of Ottumwa High School in 1941, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II from 1942-1945 B-29 Saipan 73rd Bomb Wing-Power Plant Specialist. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1949, with graduate work at UNI, ISU and General Motors Institute. He taught Auto Mechanics at Ottumwa High School from 1954-1985.
He was a member of the First Christian Church, Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars, O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion, and American Federation of Teachers. He was past president of the Iowa Federation of Teachers, and vice president of the Ottumwa Labor Council. He coached Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball and was an adult advisor for the Boy Scouts.
Surviving is his wife; a daughter, Tana J. Corbett of Ottumwa; a son, Rick L. (Mari-Kay) Corbett of Oskaloosa; two grandchildren, Sara (Shawn) Cross and David Corbett both of Oskaloosa; two great-grandchildren, De'Shawn Cross and Deon'tae Cross; two sisters, Elaine (Robert) Connell of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Connie (James) Craig of Oak Lawn, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Grace.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Reece Funeral Home with Rec. Bill Kanne officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Township Cemetery at Fremont with military services conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Monday with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday.
Memorials have been established to First Christian Church or Ottumwa Public Library.
Ken Corbett was born and raised in Ottumwa, IA and spent most of his life there. Ken graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1941.
Ken worked at John Morrell & Co. until he entered the service in December 1942.
Ken enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was sent to Kearns Field, UT for basic training and then on to Montana State University for college training to be a pilot in the Air Force. During his time in Missoula, MT he met his future wife, Rosemary Rhoades. From Montana he was sent to Santa Ana, CA for more pilot training. Due to a shortage of bombardiers, Ken was ordered to switch training and he refused and grounded his self. From there he went to Amarillo, TX for B-17 school and to Chanute Field, IL and switched again to B-29 Power Plant School. Ken was then assigned to the 871st Squadron of the 20th Air Force, an all B-29 group.
His squadron trained at Pratt Field, KS and flew practice missions to Cuba, New Orleans, LA; Clovis, NM; and several points in California. Ken's squadron joined 11 other squadrons to form a wing which was to be based on Saipan Island in the Pacific. Ken's duties included being a power plant specialist and later a crew chief on B-29s that flew 44 combat missions to Japan and 3 prisoner of war supply drops during World War II.
Ken was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, KS on Dec 22, 1945 and headed home to Ottumwa.
Ken and Rosemary were married on July 7, 1946 in Ottumwa and spent a 3 week honeymoon in Minnesota.
Ken went to the Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) and earned a B.A. degree in October 1949.
Besides working at John Morrell, Ken also had jobs as a driving instructor, real estate professional, and worked at John Deere as a steel buyer and expediter. Ken finally began his teaching career in Aug 1953 in West Bend, IA. The following year both Ken and Rosemary were offered jobs with the Ottumwa Community School District and stayed until Ken retired in 1985 and Rosemary in 1986.
*******************************
Obituary from Ottumwa Courier, date unknown
Kenneth L. Corbett, 82, of 213 E. Woodland, died October 28, 2005 at home.
He was born August 6, 1923 in Ottumwa to Lloyd S. and Hazel M. Barcus Corbett. He married Rosemary Rhoades July 7, 1946.
A graduate of Ottumwa High School in 1941, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II from 1942-1945 B-29 Saipan 73rd Bomb Wing-Power Plant Specialist. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1949, with graduate work at UNI, ISU and General Motors Institute. He taught Auto Mechanics at Ottumwa High School from 1954-1985.
He was a member of the First Christian Church, Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars, O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion, and American Federation of Teachers. He was past president of the Iowa Federation of Teachers, and vice president of the Ottumwa Labor Council. He coached Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball and was an adult advisor for the Boy Scouts.
Surviving is his wife; a daughter, Tana J. Corbett of Ottumwa; a son, Rick L. (Mari-Kay) Corbett of Oskaloosa; two grandchildren, Sara (Shawn) Cross and David Corbett both of Oskaloosa; two great-grandchildren, De'Shawn Cross and Deon'tae Cross; two sisters, Elaine (Robert) Connell of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Connie (James) Craig of Oak Lawn, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Grace.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Reece Funeral Home with Rec. Bill Kanne officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Township Cemetery at Fremont with military services conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Monday with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday.
Memorials have been established to First Christian Church or Ottumwa Public Library.
