Lloyd Durant McCombs

The earthly life of Mr. Lloyd Durant McCombs came to an end at the age of 94 on Monday, August 4, 2025, in Wichita, Kansas. His life began on January 22, 1931 here in Wichita, Kansas and his parents were Vernon Ted McCombs and Gertrude Juanita (Durant) McCombs.

His elementary school years were all spent at Hyde Elementary, except for a couple of years (1939-1940) when the family lived in Park Ridge, Illinois. After finishing elementary school, he attended Robinson Intermediate in Wichita. He lived in Oklahoma for a couple of years (1946-1948) and while there attended Jay High School. He then returned to Wichita and graduated from East High School in Wichita.

While attending East High School he noticed an attractive, intelligent, and energetic young woman by the name of Jeanette Straub. They slowly got to know each other and they eventually got married on September 10, 1950. He often referred to her as his “child bride” because she was 3 months shy of being 18 years old and he was 3 months shy of being 20 years old. Most of us today would say they were both young!

Lloyd’s working career began the summer of 1950 at Wichita Towel & Linen Service. After getting married, the young couple decided to live and work on a 255-acre farm in Oklahoma owned by his father. The farm was called “Du Mac Acres” and its main purpose was to raise Aberdeen Angus. On the farm they lived in a reconstructed old log cabin house. As it is for anyone who lives on a farm, their lives were busy. On December 4th, 1951 their son Craig Charles McCombs was born in nearby Siloam Springs, Arkansas. They suffered through a couple of years where the weather was so dry that they had difficulty growing enough grass to feed the cattle. So, after about 3 years on the farm, they moved back to Wichita. Shortly after returning to Wichita their son Robert Lloyd McCombs was born on October 6th, 1953.

The family lived in the northwest portion of Wichita until 1958 when they moved to 2279 S. Glenn. This home was within walking distance of an elementary and middle school for the boys. The residence became a refuge for some of the neighborhood boys and was often the site of building projects and mock battles. Both parents were active and supportive of their son’s involvement with the Boy Scouts of America from the early 1960s to the early 1970s.

Lloyd began working for Yingling Aircraft near the Wichita Municipal Airport in 1953 and eventually earned his way up to the position of Parts Manager. After he worked for them for about 6 years, he had an opportunity to get a better job at Butler Aviation in Rockford, Illinois as their Parts Manager. He left his family in Wichita and lived in a motel while he was working for the new company. Unfortunately, after about eight months without assurances from his employer of a permanent position, he returned to Wichita.

Lloyd then got a job at Western Control Corporation in 1960 where he worked as the Warehouse Manager. It was a good job that lasted for about 4 years. In 1964 he got the job of Manager of the Wichita Regional Distribution Center for Intertherm Incorporated in Wichita. He enjoyed working in this position for the next 22 years (1964-1986) and had a warehouse that was second to none! It is obvious looking back that he had a strong natural skill of organizing and storing the inventory under his responsibility.

In July of 1968 the family moved to 2228 W. Southgate in south Wichita, which was a larger home in a better neighborhood. The boys attended South High School in the late 1960s and early 1970s and started their studies at the college level in the early 1970s.

Lloyd became an instructor in the Electronics Department of United Technical Institute where he taught from 1987 to 1989. He then worked at the Bicycle Peddler where he assembled and repaired bicycles from 1990 to 1994. Lloyd then got a job at Smith & Smith Aircraft where he assembled electrical motors by hand, which was a very technical and high precision job. He worked for them for over 8 years (1995-2004) as a full-time and part-time employee. His working career ended in 2004 at the age of 73, thus completing over 50 years of work!

In about 1999 they moved out to west Wichita to help take care of Jeanette’s aging father. This home allowed everyone in the home to have their “own space” to pursue the things that interested them and brought them enjoyment.

Their 50th Wedding Anniversary was recognized with a reception on September 10th, 2000 at Bethel Life Center in Wichita. Many old friends and acquaintances stopped by to congratulate them, catch up on what had been going on and to wish them well.

As you can see, Lloyd was busy working much of the time, but he did have time to do the things that he enjoyed!

During the mid- to late-1960s the family took vacation trips to Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. This included camping out, hiking, Jeep rides, fishing, and exploration of national parks. When the boys got older and busy with college and work, Lloyd and Jeanette continued camping and canoeing together when they had the time. They also owned a cabin on 40 acres in Arkansas where they would occasionally go to “get away from it all.” They enjoyed the out of doors, fresh air, and beautiful scenery!

Lloyd also enjoyed learning and utilizing the skills of Amateur Radio over the years. In 1971 he earned his Amateur Radio Operator License with the call sign of N0DUY. He kept studying and practicing and earned his Amateur Extra License in 1974 with the call sign of WB0DUY. Lloyd changed his call sign to K0LM in 1977 and has been a member of the Chapter 79 of the QCWA (Quarter Century Wireless Association) since 1995.

Another long-term joy of Lloyd’s was listening to and playing music. He purchased a Spanish Guitar and a Steel Guitar in the 1950s and actually got pretty good at playing both of them! Later in his life he taught himself how to play the Dobro Guitar. He played the Dobro with the “Classics” (1980s-1990’s) and the “Heaven Help Us Gospel Sing-A-Long” (2009-2019), which were a small group of elderly musicians who played for homeless shelters and churches as a Christian ministry.

Lloyd admired what his father, an illegitimate child growing up in Oklahoma, had been able to accomplished in his lifetime. He spent three years writing and editing the storyline and selecting just the right photographs, maps, and sketches to help tell the story. It was in January 2024 that his book, “From Nothing To Something,” was finally published.

Lastly, and more importantly, Lloyd’s life shows how our Lord can develop in each of us a faith that changes our life into one that trusts and reflects Christ and His Love. As an adult, he has attended regularly and been a member of Bible based churches. He learned how amazing God’s blessings are when one faithfully tithes, even when there doesn’t seem to be enough money. Lloyd prayed once for God to give him the desire to read His Word and God answered that prayer --- Over the last several years he has read through the entire Bible more than 21 times!

Visitation will be at Resthaven Mortuary, from 5-7PM on Friday, August 15, 2025. The church service will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 1:30PM, at First Evangelical Free Church, which will be followed by a graveside service at Resthaven Cemetery in West Wichita.