Eric Lance Korbel went to meet the Lord 10 August 2026 at 10:10 PM after a three-year battle with Dementia at age 57.

Eric was Special Child born with Downs Syndrome April 16, 1969, at the original Louise Obici Hospital in Suffolk, VA. Eric lived in Chesapeake, VA, Chicago, IL, and Virginia Beach in his early years. Always having a Love for school & his teachers. Like everyone else, Eric had to deal with bullies once being pushed off the steps of a bus and chipping one of his front teeth. It never seemed to bother him.

In February 1981 Eric’s Mother remarried at The Ascension Roman Catholic church in Virginia Beach and the Family moved to Arlington, VA. Northern Virginia was quite a new experience for Eric given the proximity to the Smithsonian Institution, Mount Vernon, the Pentagon, and the Kennedy Center. Eric enjoyed them all.

Two years later the Family moved to the California Desert Indian Wells Valley. Both his mom and Dad had jobs at the Naval Weapons Center. This is where Eric developed important living skills with the Special Olympics and the Boy Scouts of America. The Family also enjoyed going to Rodeo in Bishop on Memorial Day & Labor Day Weekend. Eric & his mother both took skiing lessons when they got to see what 280 inches of snow looks like.

After 8 years in California Eric’s Mother got a promotion in Washington D.C, and the Family moved back to Northern Virginia. California was good for Eric as he matriculated to High School in Ridgecrest, Calif. Since California mainstreamed Downs students with Normal kids he got help in Creative Cooking, Woodshop, and Physical Ed.. He learned to play Basketball in California, and that contributed to keeping his slender build along with learning to swim the length of the Pool where the Family lived.

In Northern Virginia for the second time, Eric got to go to a Fairfax County High School at Thomas Edison High School in Franconia, VA with one day a week at the West Potomac HS Pulley Center for the more challenged students. The students at the Pulley Center served their time as grounds keepers at Woodlawn Plantation, former home of Nelly Custis. Nelly was raised by George & Martha Washington after Nelly’s Mother died in childbirth. Nelly was bequeathed to the Woodlawn Plantation and could use a Monocle to see who was visiting Mt. Vernon in her sewing room in one of the Gables of Woodlawn high on a hill next to Richmond Road.

It is here where Eric met and shook hands with Barbara Bush (FLOTUS) in 1990.

Eric graduated from Thomas Edison High School in June 1992, and with three months was offered a job at Walmart by the Community Services Board.

Eric worked as a Stockman in various Departments including Health & Beauty Aids, Receiving, Carts retrieval. Eric seemed to thrive at Walmart and had Payroll take out $100 a payday and deposit the money in the Walmart Associate Stock Purchase Plan with Automatic Dividend reinvestment.

As Eric’s Mother & Father planned for retirement, NC was the only place all three could agree on. With lots of communication, we managed to get Eric a position at Walmart Kitty Hawk. Eric liked the new location, but the new Manager did not like Eric, and he dismissed Eric after two years. After a short stint at Food Lion, Eric retired for good.

The remainder of Eric’s life centered on visits to Florida to see his Aunt Evelyn and vacations to Maui, Hawaii and Kaui, Hawaii. Eric indeed had a full and productive life

Eric is survived by his Mother Helen-Marie, Father Timothy, sister Pamela Denise, Nieces Leslie, Jessica.

Funeral services celebrating Eric's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026 at the Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home Chapel in Gatesville, NC. Interment will follow at Warwick Baptist Church Cemetery, Hobbsville, NC. 

Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, NC is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com