Colburn, Gavin J.

Gavin J. Colburn

Frankfort, Ohio

Feather Location: Row G, #17

Obituary from This Week Community News

Gavin Colburn had big plans for when he returned from Iraq: He wanted to marry his girlfriend and use his Army benefits to go to college, where he would study law. "We told him we'd pay for college, but he was real independent that way. He wanted to do it himself," said his father, Tony Colburn. Gavin Colburn, 20, of Frankfort, Ohio, was killed April 22 when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy along a supply route north of Tal Afar. He was based in Kingsbury, Ind. He joined the Reserves in 2003 after graduating from high school, where he played basketball. His coach, Mike Patrick, said Colburn was a quiet person with great physical energy. "He was a kid with a plan and the Army was part of that plan," he said. His father added: "He was one of the nicest kids around, and I'm not just saying that 'cause he was my son. He'd help anyone who needed help, whether they knew him or not." Colburn is also survived by his mother, Tina Stevens.

Carver:  Laurie Sak has been a wood carver for more than 30 years and says wood carving runs in her family. Laurie learned from her father and she shares her knowledge of carving serving as an officer with the Great Lakes Wood Carvers

Wood:  Basswood