DAVID L. COMBS

 
DAVID LEON COMBS  
David Leon Combs died in his native San Antonio on January 4, 2014. He was 71 years old. Mr. Combs was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and served on the USS Kittyhawk CVA in Vietnam where he was cited for participating in 67 combat support missions as a Flight Officer. In defense of the nation, he was awarded a Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal and the Air Medal with 2 Stars. He retired honorably in 1976 as a Lieutenant, Junior Grade. His career in the Washington area was spent with the District of Columbia Department of Corrections as a prison guard, parole officer and drug counselor until his retirement in 1996.  Mr. Combs graduated from St. Mary's University, San Antonio in 1964 where he earned a bachelor's degree in government before gaining acceptance to Officer Candidate School. He did post-graduate work at Tuskegee University and later at George Mason University. He was an avid reader, and in his life, read over 10,000 books. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to his alma mater, St. Mary's University, in his name, David Leon Combs, Class of 1964: https://www.stmarytx.edu/giving/gift/ Your gift will help another young person achieve his or her dream of going to college. Mr. Combs loved sports, cooking, and he had a great sense of humor. He is survived by his son David P. Combs (Angela Combs) of Cheverly, Maryland and his sister Lois Belany (Ralph Belany) of San Pablo, California. Mr. Combs had a grandson, Harrison P. Combs, a niece, Meredith L. Belany and a nephew Lowell E. Belany all of whom he treasured. Mr. Combs was preceded in death by his parents, Elroy and Bessie O. Combs, his wife Ingrid Combs, and his younger brother, Corporal Lowell T. Combs, who was killed in action in Vietnam at Valentine's Ridge.  Services private.