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Obituary for CORBIN


Published in the Albuquerque Journal on Sunday November 11, 2012

CORBIN, DON E. JR. was best known for the Sixty Two Bar Ranch, 6 Corbin Lane, Los Lunas, NM. He and his wife Judy raised and trained quarter horses and horses of other breeds including five-time world champion Skippa Stars Lace and three-time champion Handfulla Charm. Don was born in Hollywood, FL and spent his early years in Delta OH, but learned his horsemanship skills while growing up on the Cinco C Ranch near Estancia, NM. During his youth he authored children's cartoon books. He was an accomplished ventriloquist and won several talent shows. He is a graduate of Estancia High School. He began showing stock at the New Mexico State Fair in his teens and during high school years he was a wrangler at Philmont Scout Ranch. Later he was in charge of the horse operation at Four Hills Stables in Albuquerque where he worked with his lifelong friend John Findley, now with USTRC. While at Four Hills, Don was a stunt double for Kirk Douglas in the film "Lonely Are the Brave" filmed in Tijeras Canyon. He briefly rode on the New Mexico rodeo circuit. Don served as instructor of horsemanship for the UNM Peace Corp training center prior to starting his own ranch and horse-breeding center. In addition to his horsemanship skills, Don was an accomplished artist. He did western paintings and created cartoons for horse magazines such as Western Horseman and the American Quarter Horse Journal. He was a professional photographer and had an online stock photo site where his western photos were distributed for worldwide use. He was widely read and an amateur historian and philosopher. He was also known for his sense of humor and impersonations of famous, and not so famous people. He is survived by his wife Judy Corbin; his two daughters Laurie and Amy, all of Los Lunas, NM; his six grandchildren; and his two brothers Dr. Chuck Corbin of Phoenix and Dr. David Corbin of Omaha. Donations to Presbyterian Hospice in care of Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, P. O. Box 26666, Albuquerque, NM 87125 are requested in lieu of flowers.