Representative Willard Eugene McCombs

Representative Willard Eugene McCombs, 78, 2075 Kluttz Road, died Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at Northeast Medical Center in Concord, NC.
Rep. McCombs was born in Faith, NC, June 16, 1925 to the late Junius Ray and Ethel Irene Peeler McCombs. He, his father, Ray McCombs and his brother, Verne McCombs ran a successful small grocery, McCombs and Company, in the Faith community for more than 50 years. He was also part owner of Faith Radio and TV with his long-time friend and business associate Wentworth Beck for 20 years.
Rep. McCombs graduated from Granite Quarry High School and attended Catawba College before entering the U.S. Army in 1943 where he served with the 31st Infantry in the Pacific Theatre during Wold War II. For his service to his country, he received the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars and one Bronze Arrow Head, the Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Representative McCombs was long active in civic and community affairs throughout his life and cared deeply for others and about making his community and his State a better place to live. He was a charter member and life member in the Faith Jaycees, active in the Faith Civitan Club and Faith American Legion Post 327. He began his public service in 1948 serving on the Faith Town Board for 14 years and as Faith's Mayor for two years. He was elected to the Rowan County Board of County Commissioners in 1966 where he served for 12 years, and as Chairman of the Board for 10 years. He went on to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly House of Representatives from 1992 until the present and he proudly represented the 76th District and its constituents. In the N.C. General Assembly, he most recently served on the House Finance Committee, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Local Government I Committee, Military Veterans and Indian Affairs Committee, Pensions and Retirement Committee (Vice- Chair) and the Subcommittee on Tax and Tags (Chairman).
In his public service, he served on numerous boards and received many honors and awards for his outstanding public service. From 1951-2001, he served as Treasurer of the Faith Fourth of July celebration. He was named Civitan Citizen of the Year and received the Civitan International Medallion for more than 50 years of service, was recipient of the Faith Jaycees Service Award and was a founding member of the Faith Volunteer Fire Department. Among the boards he served on were the Rowan County Board of Health serving as its chairman, was a member and chairman of the Centralina Council of Government, served on the Board of Directors of the Salisbury Rowan Chamber of Commerce receiving the Board's Outstanding Service Award and served as a Campaign Division Leader for the Rowan County United Way. He received the Exemplary Life Service Award from Catawba College in 2000. He was appointed by Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr. to the State Law and Order Commission and to the State Board of Human Resources and by Governor James G. Martin to serve as Trustee on the Board of the Teacher's and State Employees' Retirement Board.
He was a lifetime and faithful member of Shiloh United Church of Christ in Faith and served as President of the Consistory, Sunday School Superintendent, Church Trustee and taught Sunday School for 55 years.
He was a loving husband, and adoring and respected father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Jean Fisher McCombs and their two children, Pamela McCombs McDonald of Concord and husband Daniel S. McDonald and Keith Fisher McCombs and wife, Julia Morgan McCombs of Fuquay-Varina, NC. A son, Willard Eugene "Skippy" McCombs, Jr. preceded Rep. McCombs in death in 1959. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Sarah Jean and Daniel Seth McDonald of Concord, NC, Adam Fisher McCombs of West Point, NY and Eric Spencer McCombs of Fuquay-Varina, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Willard Eugene "Skippy" McCombs, Jr. Memorial Fund at Shiloh United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 308, Faith, NC 28041 or the Nazareth Childrens', Home, P.O. Box 1438, Rockwell, NC 28138.
The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Doug Kelling and associate, and the staff at Northeast Medical Center for the outstanding care Rep. McCombs received during his stay.
Visitation will be at Summersett Funeral Home in Salisbury, NC from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2004, and funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday at Shiloh United Church of Christ in Faith, NC with graveside services at Shiloh United Church of Christ, Cemetery.