William Jackson "Jack" Corbett

William Jackson “Jack” Corbett, 95, of Valdosta, affectionately known as "Skeet" to family and many friends, died on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 after a very brief illness. Born in Lake Park to the late Oscar & Marion Parsons Corbett, he grew up in Valdosta. He graduated from Valdosta High School in the early 1940’s. Playing tailback for the Wildcats under Coach Wright Bazemore in the 1939 and 1940 seasons, he scored 8 touchdowns in the winning 1940 state championship season. Following high school, Mr. Corbett joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in the Pacific Theatre of Operations during WW II. After the war, Mr. Corbett returned to Valdosta and married Dorothy Zipperer in 1947. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a double major and then went on to receive his master’s degree in agriculture from the University of Maryland. Mr. Corbett spent most of his career as an Extension Agent in Howard County, Maryland, helping farmers solve problems with crops and writing newsletters for farmers and other agriculture professionals.
Mr. Corbett was a lifelong fan of the Valdosta Wildcats and maintained encyclopedic knowledge of statistics and historical facts associated with the “Cats.” His Letterman Jacket, in an unusual color for the Wildcats, is included in the Valdosta Wildcat Museum at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. He and his wife Dorothy were members of Northside Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Anne Wallace Riddles and her husband Ben Riddles of Lillian, AL, and Nancy Tom and her husband Victor Tom of Redmond, WA, and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Corbett is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Zipperer Corbett, and his son, William Donald Corbett.
The graveside funeral service for Mr. Corbett will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 23, 2019 at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. Rev. Bob Willis will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Valdosta Wildcat Touchdown Club. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.McLaneCares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.