Obituaries

Life and Times of Leona Combs October 18, 1927 ~ September 3, 2014 Leona was born and raised in Wichita Gardens, Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1944, she graduated high school from Wichita Falls, Texas; she then graduated college from in Omaha, Nebraska with a degree in air traffic control. On February 28, 1950, she married Vernon Combs in Wichita Falls. She had two children, Timothy Lee in 1950 and Cynthia Anne in 1952. Their family was then stationed in England from 1954 – 1957, Amarillo 1957-1962, Italy from 1962 – 1965 and they enjoyed traveling throughout Europe during those years. In 1965, they were stationed in Sherman, Texas and she began working at the old Shady Oaks Rest Home with her daughter. She then began her 22 ½ year career at Wilson N. Jones as a Nurse Assistant in various departments. During this time, they joined the Friendship United Methodist Church, and she enjoyed being husband’s partner in his circuit ministries. Retirement enabled her to camp and to travel to bluegrass festivals and follow her granddaughters around to watch them play basketball. This became a lifestyle that she loved. After her husband’s death she became active in transporting other ladies to activities, shopping, visiting shut-ins and teaching in the Friendship kitchen, to carry on the tradition. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rosa Lee and Charles Lutz, two sisters: Elizabeth Brown, Georgia Lee Carson and her husband Bo, one son, Timothy Lee Combs, and her brother John Lutz. She is survived by her sisters Marguarete Knox and Barbara Lutz. One daughter, Cynthia Anne Covington, her husband Jerry, and her daughter-in-law Lee Combs. Grandchildren: Mandy Campbell, Mechelle Merriman and her husband Jeff, Misty Filipowicz and her husband Joseph, and Montana Lee Covington, Nicholas Glenn, Kristen Sanchez and her husband Ricky, Breanna Pratt. Great Grandchildren: Caleb Lewis, Coulton Lewis, Tennyson Lewis, Nathaniel Gill, Joshua Gill, Emma Filipowicz, Brandon Filipowicz, Taylor Whitehurst, Alexander Sanchez, and Lexi Sanchez. A Celebration of Leona's Life is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 27th, at Friendship United Methodist Church in Sherman, with Jeff Pruit officiating. Interment will follow immediately afterward, in the cemetery just behind the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be registered at www.dannelfuneralhome.com