Wilbur Lee Combs

Wilbur was born on a farm in rural Payne County, Oklahoma on November 2,1933 to John Wesley Combs and Dora Brewer Combs. The youngest son of share croppers, he attended Free Silver School and continued on to Ripley High School where he graduated Vice President of his class. He always loved talking about Ripley, the school and his times there.

After graduation he went into the Army and was stationed at Ft. Lewis in Washington for his time of service. He enjoyed seeing that part of the country but was always a small town Oklahoma boy in his heart.

Returning to Cushing, Oklahoma after the Army, he met a pretty telephone operator by the name of Wanda Ledgerwood. They married in 1957 and enjoyed 56 years together, building a life in Wichita. Wilbur went to work for the railroad, eventually retiring from the Union Pacific after many years of service. Wilbur and Wanda had three children, Linda, Connie and Mark. They lived and loved as a family, serving the Lord and each other with every opportunity. Wilbur served many years on the Official Board of the church, taught Sunday School, and for years he went to the jail on Monday nights to offer encouragement and pray with inmates who were willing to talk with him.

In 2013 Wilbur was left a widower following Wanda’s death. He reconnected with a past acquaintance, a lovely lady, Connie Jane Burchfiel Cox. They shared so much in common, a deep abiding faith, the loss of their spouses, and the need to share life with someone. Their friendship turned to love and they were blessed to spend the remaining 7 years of Wilbur’s life together.

Because of Wilbur’s deep love for the Lord, we know where he is and that we will see him again. Wilbur walked that relationship out on a daily basis which brought the strength and stability to his life we loved him for. The Apostle Paul said in scripture “to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.” On Thursday night sitting together in their recliners and watching a ballgame, one moment Wilbur was with us and the next moment, because of sudden cardiac arrest, he was face to face with the Lord he loved.

He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings, Linwood, Tony, Enos, Geneva, Trellis & Tressie, and Dewayne.

He is survived by his loving wife, Connie Jane Combs; his children, Linda (Randy) Esterline, Connie (Ted) Pauley and Mark (Starlene) Combs; sister-in-law, Cara Lee Combs; brother-in-law, Elmer (LaRita) Ledgerwood; cousin, Joyce Mills; step-son, Randy Cox; 6 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; and a host of nephews and nieces and step grandchildren.

If you ever talked with Wilbur you will remember his ability to tell a story and to connect with people. He loved visiting with family, friends and people from all walks of life. He never knew a stranger.

There will be viewing prior to Wilbur’s service, starting at 9:30 am with the service to follow at 10:30 am, on Tuesday, January 18, at Colonial Heights Assembly, 5200 S. Broadway, with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. For our family and friends who are distant, or out of Covid concerns, the service will be live streamed on the Colonial Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/colonialheightsassembly

We’re going to miss him so much.