Thomas Gerald McCombs

Thomas Gerald McCombs 65, of Connersville, died at Lincoln Center East in Connersville on Thursday evening, February 21, 2013. Thomas was born Oct. 7, 1947 at Fayette Memorial Hospital, a much beloved son of Clair Cecil and Marcia Scholl McCombs. He was a much beloved grandson of Cecil Clair and Mollie Koeppel McCombs, and of John Benjamin and Sarah Goble Scholl. After graduating from Connersville High School in 1965, he entered Purdue University’s School of Mechanical Engineering, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1970. Tom served in the United States Army from 1970-1973, obtaining the rank of Specialist E-5. His last duty station was Ft. Sill, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was a fourth generation Steel Fabricator at McCombs & Son Company. Tom was a passionate history buff, and cherished his family vacations to the Gettysburg, PA National Military Park, Jamestown, Virginia, and Lookout Mountain outside Chattanooga, TN, a Civil War Battle site. Survivors include his brother, Robert Paul McCombs; his sister, Nancy Joan McCombs; his uncle and aunt: Paul and Frances McCombs, all of Connersville; his maternal uncle: Gerald Scholl, living in Utah; and maternal aunts Betty Smith Scholl of Green Valley, AZ, and Mary Scholl of Jamul, CA,. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, a sister, Ann Kathleen McCombs Rekawik and brother-in-law, Richard Rekawik; and a sister, Jane Margaret McCombs. Public memorial services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2 at the Shrine of Memories Mausoleum, Connersville woth military honors conducted by the Fayette County Vetrans Council. Arrangements are being handled by Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or The Gleaners, (www.gleaners.org) would honor Tom’s memory. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.