Clyde Otto Combs

Clyde Otto Combs, 100, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2025, at his residence in Baytown, Texas. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, September 15, 1924, to Clyde Otto Combs, Sr. and Bertha Alice Newton and had three older sisters, Doris, Helen, and Marjorie Combs. Clyde grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and graduated from Arsenal Technical High school in 1942.

He served as Quartermaster (QM) in the US Navy during World War II in PT Boat Squadron 35 on PT515, participating in the D-Day invasion at Normandy, France. Following his Honorable discharge with rank of QM2/c, he was awarded the World War II Victory medal, American Campaign Medal; and European African Middle Eastern Medal-1 Bronze Star. After returning from Europe, he married his hometown sweetheart, Beth Peavy, in 1945 in Indianapolis, Ind. He worked at Allison Division of General Motors. They had their daughter, Cheryl (Scarborough). Clyde soon entered General Motors Institute’s co-op program, completing 2 years. Their marriage did not work out and Clyde moved to Houston, Texas.

He began a career in mechanical and piping design in Houston, Texas, becoming a partner at McEver Engineering & Construction in Houston. Clyde married Leta Arden Shine in 1950 at St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. They had three children and he cherished the 58 years they were married. Clyde wrote in his autobiography that his most significant engineering project was in Norway, the design of the first deep water pipe-lay vessel, BC500 jet sled in 1972 for Santa Fe International Corp. He was a member of the “Houston Tidelanders” Barbershop Chorus from 1965-1969. Clyde was a member of St. Stephens Methodist Church from 1951-1972, and became a member of Candlelight Bible Church in 1973, deeply embracing the faith of his childhood while attending and serving the Lord there.

Clyde was an artist, completing a series inspirational oil paintings of family settings, persons, and nature and his watercolor map of the Normandy Invasion landing site, composed from 1944 navigation charts. He loved the beach and designed his own beach house and had it built in Sea Isle, Galveston, now called the “Dreamsicle Beach house”. In 2009, Clyde was awarded the French Legion of Honor medal and afterward was often spoke publicly in various clubs, schools, and organization on behalf of PT Boaters, the US Navy, and all veterans who served in the US Armed forces. For his last 15 years, he dutifully implored audiences to remember D-Day and those whose sacrificed all during that massive operation to liberate France. Clyde was a member of PT Boats Inc., American Society of the French Legion of Honor, The Naval Order, and American Legion Post 512. He married Virginia Graeff at age 85, sharing 3 ½ sweet years with her.

Clyde was preceded in death by his parents, his wives and his sisters.

He is survived by his children: Cheryl Scarborough, Clyde Alan Combs (Marcia), Sandra Combs Allen (William/Bill), and Linda Del Castillo; sister-in-law, Beverly Millsap (George); grandchildren-David Scarborough (Mandy), Andy Combs (Sarah), Joseph Benjamin Combs (Sara), Hilary (Combs) Brewer (Stephen), Deborah Mae Allen (Erik), Rebekah Allen Spinn (Trey), Rachel (Allen) Holman (Jeff), Abigail (Allen) Rojas (Manuel), Joshua Del Castillo, James Del Castillo, and Christina Del Castillo; great-grandchildren: Cooper, Zoe, Quincy, Charis, and Kaiden Scarborough, Jeremiah Combs, Caleb Combs, Taylor Combs, Fisher Combs, Finn Combs, Asher Combs, Annie Combs, Elijah Brewer, Everly Brewer, Rowan Thienes Allen, Seth Allen, Sophie Allen, Stella Combs, Sloane Allen, Riley Holman, Kinley Holman, Camila Claire and Nolan Rojas; nieces and nephews: Sue (Schuster) Shaw (Harold), Ronald Schuster (Penny), Wayne Millsap, Paul Millsap, Glenn Millsap and 17 great nieces and nephews: including Sulynn Hey who has written him numerous letters, shared nature photos, and sent inspirational notes often as he passed through the past year in bed due to a fall.

Visitation for friends and family will be held Friday, June 13 at 10 AM for visitation and the funeral service at 11 AM at American Heritage Funeral Home. Burial is at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery on 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of Clyde’s respected organizations: Gideons International, PT Boats Inc., Naval Order of United States, American Legion Post 512, or National Museum of the Pacific War.