Albert B. Combs

Albert B. Combs, Age 71, of West Alexandria, Ohio, died January 10, 2014. He was born on September 5, 1942, in Hazard, Kentucky, to the late Carlos and Clora Combs.

Al graduated from Charlestown High School, Charlestown, Indiana, in 1961 and received a BS degree in chemistry from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky in 1965. On August 5, 1967, he married Sandra J. Duncan. He worked in the nuclear research department at Mound Lab, Miamisburg, Ohio, operated by Monsanto and subsequently by EG & G. The heat sources he helped develop for probes and satellites are still penetrating the far reaches of space. After retirement from Mound he worked in removing nuclear waste from Fernald in Cincinnati and other sites.

He has been a member of the West Alex Lions Club for over 30 years and has peeled many an apple for their apple butter fund-raising project. He served on the Twin Valley South School Board, West Alexandria, Ohio, for many years and was a regular attendee at most of the school's athletic events. He loved fishing, cooking and gardening and for several years grew prize-winning roses.

He was optimistic by nature and whistled while he worked on his four acres. He built a pond, bluebird feeders, and trellises for the many plants he grew. He was very inventive and embraced the recycle/reduce/reuse philosophy long before it was the trendy thing to do. Al was a kind and loving father. He attended horse shows, music competitions, 4-H events and anything else his daughters were involved in. He was very generous with everyone in his life and especially enjoyed sending sweet treats to his grandsons through the mail.

Sandra survives along with their two daughters, Veronica Combs (Michael Borchers) and Rebecca Combs (Jody Powlette). He also leaves two grandsons, Carson and Liam Borchers, brother Robert Paul Combs and sister Jeanette Horton.

He was preceded in death by his older brother Allen C. Combs.

Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at the Barnes Funeral Home, 220 East Main Street, Eaton, OH. Family will receive friends on Sunday one hour prior to the service and following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the West Alexandria Lions Club, P.O. Box 195, West Alexandria, OH 45381. Condolences may be sent to the family via the Web site at www.barnesfuneralhome.