Mary Ruth Corbett

Mary Ruth Howell Corbett was born August 27, 1919 to Glenn Howell and Anna Mae Masengill Howell in Morristown, Tennessee. She was raised on a dairy farm and graduated from Morristown High School in 1936 and was Valedictorian of her class. She attended Carson-Newman College, transferring to the University of Tennessee, and graduating in 1940. She married L. Harold Corbett on October 11, 1941. They were blessed with two daughters Florence Deanna, 1945 and Carol Ruth, 1949. Mary Ruth's pride and joy of her life has been her family. Her grandchildren are Mary, Ben, Amy, Carrie, Christie, Casey, and Cady Ruth. They all lovingly call her "Nano." She lived in St. Petersburg, Florida most of her married life and moved to Orlando in 2008. At First Presbyterian Church in St Petersburg, she held more positions than the ministers. She was president of Presbyterian Women and Highlander Sunday School Class, coordinated the church nursery and Vacation Bible School, Superintendent of the Sunday School, was a Ruling Elder, and held several offices in the Presbytery. (Believe it or not, she started out as a Methodist, a source of playful family fun over the years!) Additionally, she was an avid supporter of her husband's active participation in Barbershop Quartet and Exchange Club, and of his position as a teacher for the Highlander Sunday School Class for twenty-nine years. Leadership positions in the community included Presidency of PEO, Mothers Christian Study Club, DAR, and PTA. She and Harold were Tour Hosts on 15 tours abroad. If you wanted something done, ask Mary Ruth Corbett. In her "spare time," she played bridge, was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed needlepoint, crocheting and knitting. Her grandchildren still treasure the Christmas stockings she made for each of them as young children. Harold, her loving husband of 60 years, died in 2001. In addition to her husband and parents, her brother William Dean Howell and niece Glenda Sue Jellicorse preceded her. She is survived by her daughters Florence Guidinger and Carol Fisher, son-in-law Larry Fisher, niece Mary Lynn Morell, nephew, Bill Howell, seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Her extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and "outlaws," and more "greats," plus many special friends have surrounded her with love these 92 years. Sincere appreciation is extended to the staffs of Windsor Place, Orlando Lutheran Towers, and Cornerstone Hospice for their compassionate and loving care of our beloved Nano. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to First Presbyterian Church, 701 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, or the Park Lake Presbyterian Church Organ Fund, 309 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL, 32801. A service in celebration of her life is planned for 3:00 PM, Sunday, May 27th at Park Lake Presbyterian Church, Orlando. Interment will be this summer in Morristown, Tennessee.