Joe Miller Combs, Jr, a U.S. veteran of both the Army and the Navy, passed gently away at the age of 94 in the early morning of Thursday, May 25, 2023. Having served in the post-WWII / Korean War era, he lived his last few years in the Sam Rayburn Veterans’ home in Bonham, TX. We love the staff there where he received the utmost in compassionate and professional care.
His son Michael was at his side when he left us. Joe was the last of his generation in our family, preceded by both parents, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, two wives, a son and a grandson. He is survived by three children, two stepchildren, 14 grandchildren, multiple nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren. He’s been a great father, leader, and a fine example to us all.
Joe graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in Accounting. One of the highlights of his long career was the sale, with IBM, of the Cowboy computer system to Braniff Airlines in Dallas. This was followed by successful entrepreneurship in the travel and real estate industries, in which he involved all of his children.
Joe taught all of his children, plus many others, to swim, play chess and tennis, ride bicycles and horses, to do our own thinking, and to love books and music.
He was an active Unitarian Church member at 1st Unitarian Church in Dallas, 1st Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, and our congregation.
. He always signed his letters and documents with this motto:
“I wish you Love, Health, Wealth, and Happiness … and Time to enjoy them.”
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