John “Doc” Combs was an economist and retired college instructor who served as a combat corpsman of the United States Department of the Navy in Vietnam from 1968 – 1969 first with Alpha Battery, 1/12, 3rd Marine Division, Delta Company, 3rd Medical Bn., 3rd Marine Division, and the remainder with the hospital ship, the USS Sanctuary. He was a decorated veteran with three Bronze Stars, including a Bronze Star “V”, C.A.R. He authored the book, “Mercy Warriors – Saving Lives Under Fire“, regarding his own and other corpsmen and nurses’ experiences on the Vietnam battlefield, published to illustrate the dedication and courage they possessed, and the physical and mental health trials they endured later in life as a result.
He was in the graduating class of 1962, West Carrollton High School, earned a dual Master of Science in Agriculture and Economics from the University of Kentucky in May, 1973. He was a Mason and active in DeMolay, and he was involved in many civic projects, such as helping to raise money by collecting cans to recycle for children’s books for the Astor County Library, Astor, Florida, where he lived for 40 years. An avid walker, he arose early most mornings to walk three to five miles. He loved the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, and especially the Kentucky Wildcats Basketball team. He was a talented member of the Jackson Guild theater group of Franklin, Ohio, and he dearly loved his pets.
Born on April 25, 1944, in Boise, Idaho, to his late parents, Corbett Albert Combs and Sarah Ellen (Hanks) Combs, he moved with them to Dayton, where he was raised with his four younger siblings. As a youth he had a paper route through high school to save money for college, worked at a local grocery store, and began to umpire baseball and softball games during his college years, which he passionately continued for over 20 years.
While working at ARMCO Steel one summer break, he met and married the love of his life, Donna Rae (Hawkins) Combs on June 17, 1967, for 52 years of marriage. He and Donna raised her three children, son Timothy, and two daughters, Tami and Lisa.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, his brothers William (Julie) Combs of Castro Valley, CA, David Combs of Columbus, OH, his sisters Patricia (Thomas) Thomas of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Sandy Bryant of Dayton, OH, his stepson Timothy (Patricia) McKenzie of Auburndale, FL, his stepdaughters Tami Metzger of Middletown, OH, and Lisa (Kurt) Nichols, Santo, TX, five step-grandchildren, three step-great grandchildren.
Visitation: 5:00 to 8:00 pm Monday August 19, 2019 at Anderson Funeral Home 1357 East 2nd Street, Franklin, OH.
Funeral Services: 11:00 am Tuesday August 20, 2019 at Anderson Funeral Home 1357 East 2nd Street Franklin, OH.
Burial: 1:00 pm Tuesday August 20, 2019 at Dayton Veteran’s National Cemetery, 4400 W Third St, Dayton, OH 45428
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