On February 3, 2017, Loyd Lee Combs passed peacefully from this world and into the loving embrace of his wife Olivia and family members who had made their way before him.
Loyd was born on April 9, 1923, in West Plains Missouri, one of ten children to Jacob and Cora (Eblen) Combs. It was in Bolivar, Missouri during his brother Joe’s wedding that Loyd met Olivia Cagle, the organist for the wedding. They were married in Springfield, Missouri on December 23, 1948, and celebrated 66 years of marriage before Olivia’s passing in 2015.
Loyd graduated Bolivar High School in 1941, a few months before Pearl Harbor was attacked. He went to Seattle to work on aircraft for Boeing, and then served in the Merchant Marine and US Navy Coast Guard during World War II. His primary area of duty was in the South Pacific aboard the US Celtic. Though he seldom spoke of his experiences in the War, Loyd was very proud of his service, and being a Veteran was a distinct honor to him. After military service, Loyd attended the University of Missouri in Columbia on the GI bill, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and a Masters in Education in 1951.
He initially taught agriculture and managed the student work program and two college-owned farms at Iberia Junior College in Iberia, MO. He also taught the Veterans program at Iberia High School and managed the Seed Control Division at the Missouri State Department of Agriculture. He and Olivia moved to Joplin in 1953, and for thirty-two years Loyd worked as a Geologist for the Missouri Department of Transportation, District 7 – Joplin, where he covered eleven counties for the Geology and Materials Department. Upon retirement in 1984, he started a new career as an agent for New York Life Insurance Company retiring in 1990. In addition, Loyd and Olivia built, owned and managed the Oakland Shopping Center in Webb City Missouri; opened, staffed and managed the Oakland Hardware Store; and opened and managed a New York Life Insurance office with four agents.
Loyd believed strongly in serving and giving back to one’s community. Loyd was elected to and served on the Joplin R-VIII School Board for 18 years. During his tenure on the Board he served as President or Vice-President several times and chaired every committee of the Board at one time or another. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors of the Missouri School Boards Association; Salvation Army; Boy Scouts; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Oakland Park Village; Webb City Chamber of Commerce; Joplin Mineral Museum; Route 66 Association; and the Webb City Park Board where he was instrumental in obtaining ground for the King Jack Park soccer fields for Webb City schools. Loyd was also a 60 – year member of Masonic Lodge #345 and American Legion, Post #0013.
One of Loyd’s favorite achievements was conceiving of the idea to place a boulder “fountain” and rose garden at the Joplin High School in the 1980’s, which came to serve as a favorite gathering spot for students. When the high school was destroyed in the 2011 tornado, Loyd helped place a flag on the surviving boulder as a sign of the community’s endurance. He was very proud to see that the boulder was given a place of honor at the new high school.
In addition to large family reunions and gatherings, church pig roasts and softball games, Loyd enjoyed playing golf and was an avid quail hunter. He raised and trained bird dogs for many years.
Loyd served the Lord faithfully and he and Olivia were members of the First United Methodist Church, where he taught a Sunday School class for many years.
Loyd is pre-deceased by his parents, by brothers Joe, Tate, Rohl and Boyce, by sisters Deema, Nola, Wilma and Belva, and by great-grandchild Kody Adams.
He is survived by his sister Jean Goodman of Liberty Missouri, and by his four children: Joanna (Jim) Adams of Grand Junction, Colorado; Terri Combs (Tom Swartwood) of Des Moines, Iowa; Ron (Rosemary) Combs of Joplin; and Tracy (George) Cisco of Kansas City, Missouri. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Jamie Combs, Jessica Adams, Justin Adams, Ryan Combs, Kaitlin Swartwood, and Atticus Swartwood and five great-grandchildren: Haven, Ebbon, Tredyn, Deakin, and Kason.
The family wishes to thank Hospice Compassus for their care and service to our father over the years. Dad drew much comfort from their presence, knowledge and compassion. Additionally, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the home caregivers who assisted and helped Dad live safely and securely in his home.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm Monday at Mason-Woodard Chapel. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at First United Methodist Church in Joplin, with burial to follow at Ozark Memorial Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Compassus or First United Methodist Church.
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