Joy Combs

JOY COMBS
September 3, 1951 – February 13, 2024
Joy Kathleen (Birch) Combs, passed unexpectedly, the day before Valentine's Day, on February 13, 2024.
Joy was born on September 3, 1951 to Robert and Juanita Birch of Point Marion, Pennsylvania.
At Heaven's pearly gates, Joy was met by her parents and grandparents, her three sisters – Darla Jean, Bobby Ann and Brenda, plus her Aunt Betty and Uncle Frank, whom she was raised by.
Also, Joy was met by her favorite brother-in-law, Greg Combs, and his parents, Betty and Jim Wheeler.
Joy grew up in Point Marion, Pennsylvania, Morgantown, West Virginia, Springfield and Hampden, Massachusetts.
In 1964, Joy met her lifelong love and soulmate, Sandy Combs, at a church Christmas dance.
Joy and Sandy married on August 13, 1975 on the beach in Newport, Rhode Island in front of 300 uninvited beach going onlookers.
Joy's work careers spanned several occupations; as an insurance clerk at MASS MUTUAL, co-owner of SAT-ROOF MOUNTS (for satellite television), publisher/owner of COUPONPHILES (an ahead of its time grocery shopping coupon magazine), owner of RICE PADDY BABIES (during the Cabbage Patch Kids craze), co-owner of PARTY EXPO (a tradeshow geared towards all aspects of the Special Events industry), owner of P.O. BANK$ (a US Postal Service licensed products catalog featuring 125 products in which Joy photographed every single one for her catalog), and as a switchboard operator at Fanny Allen Campus, UVM Medical Center.
As life progressed, Joy had numerous medical challenges including two brain surgeries in 1998 and 2001 which completely changed her life, forever.
Joy loves everything about music, nature, animals, collecting heart-shaped rocks anywhere she went, the beach, and being close to water; living on Penny Lane in Lakeview MHP CoOp was not by chance.
Joy's incredible smile and soft-spokenness was only surpassed by her devoted love to her family, friends and mankind.
Always, Joy's quiet demeanor saw the best in everyone.
Joy is survived by her 60-years soulmate and 48-years loving and caring husband, Sandy Combs; their extremely devoted son, Kastle; a stepson, Robert; and Erin, Joy's loving stepdaughter.
Other surviving family members are Tanya Combs, Tena Fraser, Nancy Coltey, Skip & Lucia Combs, Kim Mocniak, Bonnie Jankowski, Dick Willis, Jimmy Linn, Chris Gabler, and Candy Litchfield.
Joy's lifelong friends have always been her sustaining strength: Margie & Neil Sullivan, Harold Wilson, Pat & Jim Plumadore, plus Armand and Connie Richardson.
Joy's primary care physician of 20+ years, Dr. Richard Pinckney, Lisa Maple, LPN and Tammy Gaudette, have helped Joy through her most challenging of life's struggles and Joy has been forever deeply and sincerely, grateful and appreciative for their love and dedication to her.
Joy's family would like to thank Officer Keith Gonyeau, Shelburne Police Department, the UVM Rescue Squad, the entire ER and ICU Teams at UVM and especially, Dr. Jesse Kane, Cardiologist Surgeon, UVM Medical Center for their extraordinary efforts, compassion and caring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shelburne Food Shelf, P.O. Box 763, Shelburne, VT 05482 or the charity of your choosing.
Joy's Celebration of Life & Remembrances will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 11:00am at the Stephen C. Gregory & Son Cremation facility, 472 Meadowland Drive, South Burlington, Vermont.