Okey Combs, Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Okey H. Combs, Jr. 82, of St. Albans passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening February 16, 2011 at Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House in Huntington, WV. He was born on March 3, 1928 in St. Albans, and was the son of Okey Harlan Combs, Sr., and Kathryn Louise Combs. Okey was a graduate of St. Albans High School and received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at West Virginia University. He was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. After serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army in Japan, Okey returned to the Charleston area where he was employed by Union Carbide Corporation for 34 years. During his career with Carbide, Okey and his family were transferred to Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Texas, ultimately returning to St. Albans where he retired. Okey loved to golf, hunt, and fish and cherished the outdoors in his beloved state. He was preceded in death by his parents, Okey and Kathryn Combs, his brother David Combs, his sister Carrie Settlemyre and a grandson John Bennett Orteza. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Mary Frances; son, Robert Combs and his wife, Nora; his daughters Mary Margaret Pruett; Barbara Ann Heng and her husband Richard, and their two sons, Charles and Joseph; and Linda Catherine Orteza and her husband Luis, and two granddaughters, Audrey and Carrie; one sister Betty Lloyd and her husband Bill; and many nieces and nephews. Okey was an active member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church for over 50 years serving as an adult Sunday school teacher. Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Saturday, February 19, 2011 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 815 Kanawha Terrace, St. Albans with Rev. Ross Harrison and Dr. Luis Orteza officiating. Interment will follow at Cunningham Memorial Park in St. Albans. There will be a viewing from 6-8 pm Friday, at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans, WV 25177. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice or to St. Andrew United Methodist Church. The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Mary?s Medical Center and Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House for their loving and compassionate care of Okey and his family during this difficult time.