Walter W. Combs

Walter W. Combs, 74, of Nokomis, Florida, passed away July 24, 2014, surrounded by his loving family at the Venice Regional Medical Center in Venice, Florida.

He was the son of the late Martin Luther Combs and Dessie Smith of Murrayville.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia; son Bradley (Angela) of Bradenton, Florida; and daughter Cynthia (George) Moore of Perry, Ohio. He was a cherished grandfather to Aaron and Ryan Combs, Kyle Moore, Lindsey (Scott) Yeagley, and Garren Moore. He is survived by his mother, Dessie Smith, and brother, Martin Combs of Murrayville. He was preceded in death by his father, Martin; his first wife, Sharon; and two brothers, John and Francis.

Walt was born in Jacksonville on April 30, 1940, in his grandmother's house. He met and married Sharon Stooksbury while they were enrolled in college in Jacksonville. In 1960, they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Walt was a research assistant at Brush Beryllium Corp. and later at TRW Inc. He continued his education at John Carroll University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. He went on to make notable contributions while working at Sherwood Refractories where he devised specialized processes for the manufacture if silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry.

In 1975, Walt joined the founding of Pyromatics Inc. to continue in the manufacturing technology for ceramic cores used in the aerospace industry. In 1979, he became a founder of Concorde Castings Inc., located in Eastlake, Ohio. At about the same time, he helped launch a ceramics division for Bicron Inc. in Newbury, Ohio. He was most proud of his contributions to the success of Concorde Castings, a company that eventually became a leader in the investment casting of turbine blades and vanes for jet engines and land based gas turbines.

Walt lost his beloved first wife of 35 years in 1995. In 2008, Walt married Virginia Harmon in Hawaii. Together Walt and Virginia have enjoyed traveling to virtually all of the United States, including Alaska and most of Canada. He also enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles. He had a broad depth of knowledge in a wide variety of subjects. Walt would stop to talk to people along his way and always had a story to share. He dabbled in woodworking including furniture and his "Oarable Boat." He will be remembered for his generosity, easy laugh, and smile.

Walt will be remembered by friends and family at a Celebration of Life on Aug. 30.