Rosalie Cook Corbin

Rosalie Cook Corbin, 95, passed away on February 13, 2025, just in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day with her beloved husband, Harry. She was a cherished mother to Deborah Corbin Sievert of Hillsborough, NC.

Born in Leicester, NC, in 1929, Rosalie was the daughter of Calvin Charles Cook and Ann Young Cook. As a child, she had great fun roaming the “Lost World” with her siblings and friends. Rosalie attended West Buncombe Elementary and High Schools before studying business education at Western Carolina Teacher’s College (WCU), where she graduated in 1951. Her early career included working at The Bank of Franklin, followed by teaching physical education and coaching basketball at Franklin High School. She later taught PE at Brevard Middle School.

A devoted wife for 68 years, Rosalie shared her life with Harry Crawford Corbin, who preceded her in death. Together, they enjoyed a long retirement filled with travel, mountain hiking, and spoiling their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rosalie was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin and Ann Cook; her brothers, Charles, Buck, Tom, and Luke; her sister, Una; and her in-laws, Charlotte, Burl, Lorene, Judy, Ralph, Oscar, Brad, Doris, Max, Helen, Mae, John, and Frances, as well as nephews Ken and Chuck.

She is survived by her daughter, Deb, and son-in-law, Tom Sievert; granddaughters Kelsey Mae Sievert of Raleigh and Corbin Rose Smith (Tim) of Grimesland; great-grandsons Crawford, Harrison, and Graham; two sisters, Linda Cook and Rita Bradley; two brothers, Frank and Bill Cook; sisters-in-law Loraine and Valda Cook; and many beloved members of the Corbin family, including Eiko, Fredrick, Bob, Jo, David, and Connie. Rosalie is also survived by 29 nieces and nephews from both the Cook and Corbin families.

In addition to her family, Rosalie was passionate about coaching, and her love for sports lasted well beyond her coaching days. She was an avid reader, especially of World War II history, a golfer, a skilled bridge player, and a gifted storyteller. She delighted in the emergence of North Carolina wildflowers and loved birdwatching. Even at 94, she still enjoyed walking a mile a day.

A very special thank you to Rosalie’s amazing caregiver, Lyndoria Blanks, and heartfelt gratitude to Transitions Hospice and her neighbors at Elfin’s Pond.

A memorial service will be held this summer in the Chapel of the First Baptist Church of Asheville.