Charlene Thorpe Combs

Charlene was born in Christopher, Kentucky, on January 11, 1944, to the late Everette Tharp and Cindy Combs Tharp. She had lived in Copperas Cove since 1979. Charlene was a devoted wife who supported her husband, Rolla E Combs, during his 20 years of active service in the United States Army and his additional 30 years in civil service at a testing command on Fort Hood. She was a loving mother, both to her own children, Donna and Ed, as well as to her children’s many friends, who called her “Mom.” She retired in 1999 after working at Albee Lanes on Fort Hood for more than 20 years.

She is survived by her husband, SFC Rolla E. Combs, ret.; a daughter and son-in-law, Donna Combs and James Draeger of Copperas Cove; a son and daughter in law, Ed Combs and Tracy Duncan of Austin, Texas; a grandson, Tyler Combs of Copperas Cove; three sisters, Pauline Hoover and Emma Tyreman of Palmyra, Virginia; and Sheila Walsh and her husband Eddie Walsh of Hazard, Kentucky; and one brother, Everette Thorpe, Jr., of Fort Worth, Texas. She was preceded by a daughter, Shari Lynn Combs of Braddock Heights, Maryland; a sister, Freda Cornett of Hazard, Kentucky; and three brothers, Joe Thorpe of Hazard, Kentucky; Jerry Thorpe of Gainesville, Florida; and Eugene Thorpe of Christopher, Kentucky.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, December 7 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, 211 West Avenue B in Copperas Cove, 76522. Services will be held at noon Monday, December 8 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, 211 West Avenue B in Copperas Cove, 76522. Burial will follow at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killleen, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the National Military Family Association, 3601 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 425, Alexandria, VA 22304 or http://militaryfamily.org.