Donald E. Holcombe

1930 - 2008

Donald E. Holcombe, age 77, of Wright, Fla., passed away March 26, 2008.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Holcombe of Wright; daughter, Lt. Col. Donna R. Holcombe of San Antonio, Texas; stepchildren, Lori Bona, her husband Steve and their children, Dominic and Addie of Delano, Minn., Michaela Quello, her husband Tim their children, Kelly, Hannah and Derek Schmeising of Plymouth, Minn., Scott Williams and his wife Gwen and their children, Reid and Connor of Richfield, Minn., Kevin Williams, his son Josh and his wife Liz and their son Cody, Parker, Caitlyn and Mackenzie of Norwood/Young America, Minn., Matthew Williams, his wife Martha and their children, Jesse and Jonathan of Sauk Centre, Minn.; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 42 years, Bette J. Holcombe; his father, Aubrey Holcombe; his mother, Mil-dred B. Brown; and his brother, Robert J. (Jack) Holcombe.
Don was born on July 16, 1930, in Birmingham, Ala. He graduated from Jones Valley High School in 1949. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and became a jet engine mechanic. While in the Air Force he served at several installations worldwide. He retired after 20 years of ser-vice at the rank of technical sergeant. Following his last assignment at Eglin Air Force Base he remained a resident of Mary Esther, Fla., and continued as an active member of Wright Baptist Church, where he was a deacon, children's Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and choir member. Papa Don and Nancy later joined Trinity United Methodist Church, where he was an active member of the choir and worked with the church's ministry teaching English as a second language.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, March 30, at 2 p.m. at Trinity United Method-ist Church (UMC), Fort Walton Beach, with visitation one hour prior to the service.
A formal visitation will be held on Saturday, March 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. at McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach.
Donations or memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made payable to Trinity UMC for the Guynelle Stewart Organ Scholarship Fund, 403 Race-track Road N.W., Fort Walton Bch, FL 32548.
McLaughlin Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.