Frank Ford Combs

Combs, Frank Ford Dr. (Col. retired US Army) 82, currently of Glen Allen, VA, formerly of Manhattan, KS, St. Louis, MO and many other places he called home as he lived a storied life traveling the world in the military, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, May 11, 2014. Frankie, as he was known to his four siblings, was the youngest child born to Cecile (Primm) Combs and Robert Herbert Combs in St. Louis, MO on June 11, 1931. He attended Holy Redeemer Catholic elementary school. St. Louis University High School, St. Louis University and St. Louis University Dental School, graduating with his DDS in 1957. In Aug. of 1958 Frank swept the love of his life, Denise, off of her feet and into his arms. They were married a little more than year later after a whirlwind, long distance courtship. This coming October they would have celebrated 55 years of marriage. Frank is survived by Denise, who remains to cherish his memory and pass along his love of life. In November of 1960 Frank became a father by welcoming Christopher Ford Combs. Chris, his wife Tammy and their three girls, Kristine, Katrina and Karli, all of Findlay, OH, survive Frank and will mourn his passing, but will treasure the memories of him in their lives. In November of 1968 Frank became a father again, welcoming Jennifer Denise Combs (Pokrywka). Jennifer, her husband Stan Pokrywka and their three children, Zachary, Lucas and Claire, all of Glen Allen, VA, survive Frank and will miss the sound of his laughter ringing through the house, but will cherish the stories, jokes and memories of him. During his long and happy life, Frank was many things to many people. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a dentist, a periodontist, a pilot, and a colonel in the Army. He took great pride, and relished, in every role he had in life. In 1962 Frank was drafted into the Army from his private dental practice in St. Louis. He began his military career as a Captain. During his time in the Army he earned the National Defense Service Metal with Bronze Star, an Army Commendation Metal for outstanding service, Meritorious Service Metal with First Oak Leaf Cluster and the Legion of Merit. In his later years of service, he used to joke that he had been passed over for general 17 times, as there were only two generals in the dental corps. In 1992, Colonel Frank Combs retired from the Army after 30 years of distinguished service. Please join us for a celebration of Frank's life beginning on Monday, May 19, 2014 with a visitation at St. Michaels Catholic Church on Springfield Rd. in Glen Allen, VA from 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday May 20 at 10 a.m. with a reception immediately following the mass at St. Michael's. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. Information on the ceremony at Arlington will be published as soon as the family is notified of a time and a date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests for those of you who knew Frank to please share a memory, or two, of your time with him.