Rolla Edward Combs

January 26, 1938-November 23, 2025

Rolla E Combs, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and neighbor, was born on January 26, 1938, in Happy, Kentucky, and passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025 after spending the day with his family.

Rolla joined the Army in January 1959. He served as a diesel mechanic repairing construction equipment, as a radio electrician, and as a microwave system repairman, including wartime tours of duty in Korea and Vietnam. Rolla retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class after 20 years, earning a National Defense Service Medal, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, a Bronze Star Medal, an Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, a Joint Services Campaign Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Citation.

During his service, he took on part-time work to provide for his wife, Charlene, his daughter, Donna, and his son, Eddie, including running a furniture repair and refinishing business and operating a projector at a drive-in theater. Rolla also coached youth baseball, kept score at youth basketball games, umpired baseball and softball games, bowled in several leagues, and pitched in fast-pitch softball leagues.

Rolla followed his 20 years of active-duty military services with another 30 years testing and developing weapons and equipment for the Army, retiring as a GS13. In all, Rolla totaled a combined 50 years of service to his country.

Rolla spent his retirement traveling, gardening, woodworking, coaching youth sports, and working on his extensive stamp collection.

After a life of selfless devotion to his family and his country, Rolla has joined his treasured wife, Charlene Combs, who passed away in 2014.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ed Combs and Tracy Duncan; his daughter and son-in-law, Donna Combs and James Draeger; and his grandson and granddaugher-in-law Tyler Combs and Cailin Lovegrove. Other survivors include his granddaughter Jasmine Gomez and her children, Andres and Ariely; and his granddaughter Leah Alosi and her children, Alonzo, Aubreyana, Legend, and Weston.

Rolla is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, John and Joan Combs; his sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Roy Hensley; his brother and sister-in-law, LeRoy and Lisa Couch; his sister, Ally Gonzales; and his brother, Tolbert Couch.

A Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Followed by A Celebration of Life in the Chapel starting at 11:00 AM. A Graveside Service will be held starting at 1:00 PM in the Central Texas State Veteran Cemetery located in Killeen, Texas

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).