ESTILENE JEAN COMBS

Born: April 27 1926

Died: January 13, 2011

Estilene was born April 27, 1926, in Orchard, Nebraska, the daughter of Clyde and Edith Bragg.

She and her husband, Walter 'Burl' Combs, were married for 66 years this past New Year's Eve.

Estilene worked as a volunteer for the United Methodist Women's Ministry from 1946 to 2000. Estilene also served on the UMW's core planning group for the Western states for six years.

Estilene and Burl were members of the Pasco First United Methodist Church and she was a lay speaker.

Estilene was a member of the Golden Rule Rebecca Lodge #242 and was adviser to the Theta Rho Girls Club for 13 years.

The Tri-Cities Federated Woman's Club named Estilene Tri-Cities 'Women of Distinction' in 1971.

Shortly after Burl was invited to join the Pasco Lions Club, Estilene joined the Pasco Lady Lions and was a member until the club disbanded almost 50 years later. Estilene held every office: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasure, Director and Committee Chairperson.

Estilene was the oldest of 8 siblings, Beryl Ritter, Ellen Quigley, Beverly Elliott, and preceding in death were her siblings Shirley Hower, Norma Silver, Charles Bragg, Richard Bragg and Judy Smith.

The couple's children are Vickey Steffens and her husband Tom of Grand Coulee, WA; Jeannie Jones and her husband Kenneth of Auburn, WA; and Robert Ness and his wife Carolyn of Auburn, WA. She leaves 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

There is going to be a celebration of life at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 22, 2011, at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union Kennewick, WA, 509-783-9532. There is also a viewing Friday, January 21, 2011, from 3-8 p.m. Following services there is a graveside service at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1401 S. Union St., Kennewick, WA, 509-783-3181. Reception to follow at the Pasco Lions Club, 304 E. Ainsworth St., Pasco, WA, 509-547-6494.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Estilene's memory may be made to http://act.alz.org/goto/Estilene.Combs