Charlene Combs

Charlene Combs, 70, formerly of Christopher, passed away in Copperas Cove, Texas, on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Charlene was born in Christopher, Ky., on January 11, 1944, to the late Everette Tharp and Cindy Combs Tharp. She has lived in Copperas Cove since 1979. Charlene was a devoted wife who supported her husband, Rolla E. Combs, during his 20 years of active service in the United States Army and his additional 30 years in civil service at a testing command on Fort Hood. She was a loving mother, both to her own children, Donna and Ed, as well as to her children's many friends, who called her "Mom." She retired in 1999 after working at Albee Lanes on Fort Hood for more than 20 years.

She is survived by her husband, SFC Rolla E. Combs, ret.; a daughter and son-in-law, Donna Combs and James Draeger, of Copperas Cove; a son and daughter-in-law, Ed Combs and Tracy Duncan, of Austin, Texas; a grandson, Tyler Combs, of Copperas Cove; three sisters, Pauline Hoover and Emma Tyreman, both of Palmyra, Va., and Sheila Walsh and her husband Eddie Walsh, of Hazard; and one brother, Everette Thorpe, Jr., of Fort Worth, Texas. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Shari Lynn Combs, of Braddock Heights, Md.; a sister, Freda Cornett, of Hazard, Ky.; and three brothers, Joe Thorpe, of Hazard, Jerry Thorpe, of Gainesville, Fl., and Eugene Thorpe, of Christopher.

Arrangements were handled by the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cover, where family received friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7, and funeral services were held at 12 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8. Burial followed at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the National Military Family Association, 3601 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 425, Alexandria, VA 22304 or www.militaryfamily.org.