Lt. Col. P. Timothy Corbin, USMC (Ret.), 68, of Westover, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2024 at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury.
Born in Nassawadox, Virginia on June 11, 1955, he was a son of the late Betty Lee Corbin and Charles Winfred “Wimp” Corbin.
Lt. Col. Corbin grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and graduated from Pocomoke High School in 1973. After graduation he attended Salisbury State College, graduating with a B.S. degree in Biology in 1977; he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. After College, he attended Officers Candidate School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in July of 1977. After attending The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia, then Lieutenant Corbin, was transferred to United States Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida and was designated a Naval Aviator in November of 1979.
After his designation as a Naval Aviator, First Lieutenant Corbin was assigned to the Second Marine Aircraft Wing in North Carolina and served in numerous Marine Squadrons including Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadrons (Composite) 264 and 261, and Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 204. From 1980 to 1989, he made several major overseas deployments in support of Landing Forces 6th Fleet operations in Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Africa, the Middle East and Norway. During this period Corbin served his Operational and Training Commands in many billets (positions) including Aircraft Maintenance Officers, Operations Officer and Aviation Safety Officer to name a few.
In August of 1989, then Captain Corbin was selected to be pilot in the Presidential Marine One Squadron (HMX-1) in Quantico, Virginia and was promoted to the Field Rank of Major in September of that year. During his tour at HMX-1, he was designated a Presidential Helicopter Aircraft Commander and Marine One Advance Officer responsible for direct support, planning and execution of President of the United States (POTUS) helicopter operations. In August of 1993 he was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps and served as an aircraft procurement officer, Aide to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps for Aviation, and Director of Inspections for the Inspector General of the Marine Corps. At the conclusion of his tour of duty at Headquarters, Lt. Col. Corbin served as the Director of Future Operations for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan. His last active tour of duty was at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina where he served the Commanding General as the Director of Safety and Standardization for Marine Corps Air Stations, Eastern Region.
During Lt. Col. Corbin’s career in the USMC, he was awarded numerous decorations, medals and badges including Air Medal – Strike/Flight, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2nd Award), Rifle Expert Badge (12th Award), and Pistol Expert Badge (12th Award).
Active in his community, Lt. Col. Corbin was a devoted member of the Pocomoke City Elks Lodge #1624 where he was P.E.R. and currently serving as Lodge Esquire, member and past president of the Pocomoke City Lions Club, member of Stanley Cochrane Post #16 American Legion in Crisfield, past Board Member of the former Hartley Hall Nursing Home Foundation, and member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Pocomoke.
He loved flying, and was well-known by his call sign “Irish”, and he also enjoyed farming. Most of all, he loved his family, and adored his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Mary Kay Vessey Corbin; children, Susan Redden and husband Jonathan and John Boston, II and wife Leslie; grandchildren, Samantha Lambertson, Camden Redden, Dylan Peterson and wife McKenzie, Ethan Peterson, and Colton Boston; sister-in-law, Sissy Vessey; step-brother, Charles Duncan Corbin and wife Pat; step-sister, Ellen Corbin; nieces, Lisa Reed and husband Billy and family and Jennifer Corbin Hilliard and husband Chris and family; as well as his brothers with HMX-1, CH-53, and CH-46.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Charles David Snead; and his in-laws, Nancy and Bill Vessey.
A memorial service will be Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 3 PM at the Pocomoke City Elks Lodge #1624. Interment with military honors will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pocomoke City Elks Lodge #1624; or Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, mcsf.org
Arrangements are in the care of Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home.
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