Gilford-Charles Leonard “Len” Corbin, 71, died Sunday evening, January 23, 2011 at his home.
Len was born on December 6, 1939 in Laconia where he was raised and schooled, graduating from Laconia High School in 1957. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Area Studies from Colgate University in 1961. He was the son of Alta (Stearns) and the late Charles Hosmer Corbin. He had been a lifelong resident of the Lakes Region.
Prior to his retirement, Len was employed by the United States Department of Justice, working in the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Honorably serving his country, he was a United States Army veteran serving from 1961-1964 as a language specialist. He challenged and lost to incumbent U.S. Representative Louis Wyman in the Republican primary for U.S. Congress in 1964. Len also spent a significant portion of his adult life teaching English and Debate at private schools both in the United States and abroad. He loved travel, the Atlanta Braves, politics, and the Sunday Boston Globe. Len was a loyal son, witty friend and brother and loving and constant father.
Len is survived by his mother with whom he made his home, Alta (Stearns) Mudgett, of Gilford; his daughter, Amber Barnes, and her husband, Chris, of Tacoma, Washington; his son, David Corbin, and his wife, Catie, of Wolfeboro; his brothers, Tom Corbin of Sanbornton, Merrill Mudgett of Winnisquam, Royal Corbin of Hendersonville, NC, and Robert Corbin of Morganton, GA; his grandchildren, Alexander, Catherine, and Patrick Corbin, and Owen and Will Barnes. Len is also survived by his beloved ex-wife, Esilda Corbin, of Dover, NH and dear step-children, Barbara Lavin of Portsmouth, NH, Giuseppe Bellavita of Portsmouth, NH, and Alessia Bellavita Slater of Boston, MA, and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 4, 2011 at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia using the Whipple Avenue entrance. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 11am at Grace Presbyterian Church, 174 Province Street, Laconia. Spring burial, with military honors, will take place at the family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery, Gilford.
For those who wish, the family suggests expressions of sympathy in Len’s name be made to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02210.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia is assisting the family of Len. For more information and to view an online memorial please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com