Harold Neil Combs

Harold Neil Combs, 97, former resident of Smithsburg, MD, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday February 9, 2026 at the Morningside House - Friendship, assisted living facility in Hanover, MD. Harold was born on December 23, 1928 and then adopted on June 6th 1929 by James Paul Combs and Gladys Pearl Combs. Harold was their only child.

Paul worked for the CONOCO Oil Company throughout Harold’s childhood. Harold grew up living with his Dad and Mom at many different “oil field camps” that were spread across Wyoming and Oregon. They were living in one of those camps near Rawlins, WY when Harold enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April 1946. Harold had just turned 17 in December. When asked why he joined the Navy, Harold would respond, that he grew up in the rural West surrounded by wide open land with nothing on it, except for a bunch of oil rigs. Those Navy recruitment posters saying “Join The Navy, See The World” were pretty appealing! They must have been, because he stayed in the Navy for over 20 years.

In the Navy, Harold would see a lot of the world and the USA as well. His deployments included port calls all over both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, and the Caribbean. He lived on both coasts of the US and at several duty stations in the heartland as well.

As an enlisted Petty Officer stationed at a recruitment center in Topeka, Kansas, Harold met his future wife Shirley June Powell, in June 1952. They were married in December 1954 and they remained happily married for over 62 years until Shirley’s passing in March 2017. Even after Shirley’s passing, Harold still considered himself “married” and counted the years. He had recently remarked that he was married for over 71 years.

Shortly after getting married to Shirley, Harold was transferred and they moved to Adak, Territory of Alaska, in the Aleutian Islands in January 1955 ( before Alaska was a state ). Prior to this move, Shirley had never been out of Kansas. Their first son Jeff was born there in 1957. In the years that followed they lived in a variety of other places both in and outside of the USA. While stationed at Norfolk, VA in 1963, their second child Craig was born. Harold retired from the Navy in 1966 as a Chief Petty Officer after 20 years of honorable service. He would then go on to work for the Dept of the Army as a civilian for another 22 years until his final retirement 1988.

Eventually they settled in the small town of Smithsburg, MD, where they resided from 1972 until 2013, when Shirley entered the Encore assisted living facility in Ellicott City, MD. Harold then moved in with his son Jeff in Pasadena, MD. He also had some occasional periods living with his son Craig in Ellicott City, MD. Harold lived with Jeff and his family until August 2025 when he then needed to go to the Morningside House - Friendship facility after having a stroke.

During Harold and Shirley’s travels they lived through several famous historical events: The Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1957, 9.1 magnitude with over 300 aftershocks, many registering over 7.0 magnitude; Emergency Evacuation from the Dominican Republic when the U.S. severed diplomatic relationships with that country; Cuban Missile Crisis where Harold was serving on a troop transport ship off the coast of Cuba for several months.

Harold learned hunting and fishing skills from his Dad while growing up in the West and thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors in his younger days. He was also a good carpenter, electrician, and overall “Mr Fix Anything” around the house. He was renowned for his meticulously organized and clean workshop areas in his homes. Every tool had a specific place and MUST be cleaned and put back into that specific place when you were done using it.

In his later years Harold became equally proficient in his use of personal computers and cell phones, especially for an elderly man in his 90’s. He documented and organized all aspects of his life, storing these documents in dedicated binders by subject. He meticulously maintained dozens of spreadsheets tracking everything from his finances to a complete medical history dating back to when he was a kid. He used his IPhone to control his hearing aids and regularly texted family members right up through his 97th birthday.

Mostly, Harold was known for his charming character and sense of humor. His humor could often be consider that of a “smart ass or wisecracker”, but was always in good nature. Many of Craig’s and Jeff’s friends can tell stories of comical comments that they were around to hear from “Mr Combs”. These stories can range from being back to when Craig and Jeff were kids to as recent as weeks ago. The staff at the Morningside House facility took great care of him. They adored him and smothered him with affection. Many of them would tell Craig that Harold never complained, even when he should have, and that he always made them laugh. When Craig thanked one of them for helping Harold, she simply responded “… Craig, your Dad makes that easy. Who wouldn’t enjoy taking care of him? …”

Harold never lost that charm and sense of humor personality, even in his final days. The Hospice nurses, who also took great care of him, described him as “… a real gem!” One of the last things consciously that Harold did was to respond to the one of the staff’s questions asking him if he was alright. Harold simply smiled a big grin and held up his hands with both thumbs up. Harold would be Harold, all the way till the end! All that knew him were blessed to have him in their lives. His family takes great comfort in knowing that Harold is now out of any pain, on his way to a better place, and will soon be reunited with his beloved wife Shirley, and all his family and friends that have passed before him. We will all see him again someday!

Harold is survived by his sons Jeff ( wife Liz ) and Craig; grandchildren Calvin ( Craig ), Shelby ( Jeff and Liz ), Dalton ( Jeff and Liz ); Marva Lee Powell ( wife of Shirley’s brother John D. Powell, deceased ); nieces Jenny Powell, Jolene Bickel, Julie Powell, Jill Powell and their families.

There will be no grave site ceremony due to the snow and weather conditions. Instead there will be a brief Commitment ceremony inside the funeral home at the end of the funeral service, along with a Military Honors ceremony. After the funeral service ceremonies, all are invited to a reception with a light lunch inside the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the “Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation” in memorial to Harold Neil Combs. This can be done online via the link below.

https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/

To donate via the mail, send your correspondence to their address: 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122. Please note Harold’s name in the memo line of your check.

Family and friends are invited to gather at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, Inc. 7250 Washington Blvd., Elkridge, Maryland 21075 (Exit 6 South off Route 100) on Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm where a Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 11am. Interment Meadowridge Memorial Park.