Charles Shepard Combs

Charles S. Combs, 92, of 1252 Castlewood Place, Owensboro, passed away on Sunday, October 28, 2007 at Owensboro Medical Health System. He was born in Happy, KY. which is in Perry Co. to the late Colonel Dilce and Leoma Shepard Combs. He was a member of First Christian Church and was a U. S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II where he reached the rank of Captain. Dilce Combs Memorial High School was named after his father and Robert W. Combs Elementary School was named after his grandfather, both schools of course are located in Happy (Perry Co.), KY.

When Mr. Combs was 12 years old, his family put him on a train and sent him to Berea to receive his education He then went to the University of Kentucky where he graduated and eventually received his Masters Degree. While at U.K., he played basketball for four years under Coach Adolph Rupp, lettering his last two years. He was the oldest living player that had played for Coach Rupp. He also played baseball and ran track there. He was later drafted to play baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, but never did, because he went into the service for World War II.

During his career, he was a teacher, principal, administrator, and coach for 43 years with the Kentucky School System. He was at Hartford High School where he was principal and coach, Mayfield High School as a teacher and coach, and Vicco High Scool in Perry Co. also. In Owensboro, where he eventually retired, he had been a teacher, and basketball and golf coach at Daviess Co. High School and also served as the Director of Pupil Personel for the County School System until retiring. At the 2007 KY. State Boys Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington, he was named the 3rd Region representative in the Court of Honor. He has also been inducted into the KY. High School Athletic Associations Coaches Hall of Fame. He is a KY. Colonel and was a former member of the Lions Club and the Kiwanis Club. He also formerly served on the City Council in Hartford, was an avid sports enthusiast especially of all U.K. sports, loved fishing, gardening, all types of animals, and especially spending time with his grandchildren.

Surviving is his wife of 66 years, Nancy Evadean Dean Combs, his children, Charles Shepard Chip Combs II and his wife Polly of Freeport, Bahamas, Judy Anne Teague and her husband Fred of Columbus, IN., and Robert Dilce Bob Combs and his wife Lorraine of Owensboro, six grandchildren, Charles Shepard Combs III, David Hardin Combs, William Shane Teague, Suzanne Teague Tansel, Krista Combs Thompson, and Kelly Combs Hunt, 13 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

Services will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, October 31, at the Glenn Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 P.M. Tuesday and after 9:00 A.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Owensboro-Daviess Co. Humane Society, P. O. Box 1075, Owensboro, KY. 42302 or to the Daviess Co. Animal Shelter, 2620 Highway 81, Owensboro, KY. 42301.