Former Corbin Mayor John Mabry dies

Funeral services for former Corbin Mayor John Mabry will take place today in the church sanctuary that, in life, friends and family say he desperately dreamed to see completed.
He got his wish.
A day before his 94th birthday, Mabry died in his Corbin home. His life will be remembered at 1:00 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church of Corbin sanctuary, a fitting tribute to a man church pastor Tim Thompson labels “visionary.”
“His dream was to see the sanctuary built in his lifetime. I think a lot of people may have some money to give to a church or a school or whatever, but John had the foresight, vision and desire to see it while he could still enjoy it,” Thompson said. “That’s the kind of person he was. He was a doer. He wanted to see things happen and grow, whether it was our church or the city of Corbin.”
Mabry, was born in Mt. Vernon, Il July 10, 1912. He was a graduate of the Gallagher School of Accounting and Business Administration. He spent his entire working years in the manufacturing field and served in World War II. He was a long-time manager at National Standard Company in Corbin and served as the city’s mayor from 1970-1974.
Corbin Mayor Amos Miller said the city “adopted” Mabry when he moved to the area and credited him with being one of the civic leaders instrumental in founding Rotary Park.
“When you’ve been in the public arena like he was and you lived as long as he lived, a normal person would garner their share of enemies. Not so with John Mabry,” Thompson said. “I don’t know anyone who had an unkind word to say about this man.”
Mabry was a long-time active member of the Corbin Rotary Club. He first joined in 1962. A scholarship sponsored by the club bears his name.
He was also active with the Corbin Senior Citizens Center and served as Treasurer in 1976.
Mabry was a charter member of the Dudes and Dolls Square Dance Club in Corbin and served as it’s second President.
Corbin City Manager Bill Ed Cannon, also a member of First United Methodist Church, said Mabry’s generosity was only eclipsed by his personality.
“He gave very generously to the church. That’s just the type of fellow he was. They come no better. He was a super man,” Cannon said.
Thompson said Mabry had remarkably good health for most of his 94 years, suffering a few maladies only recently.
“Even though physically the last few years had been hard for him, his wit and mind were as sharp as ever,” Thompson said. “He possessed the gift of encouragement I believe. He always seemed to make you feel a little bit better to be around him.”
Details regarding Mabry’s visitation, funeral and burial can be found in the Obituary section of the News Journal.