Josephine Combs

Josephine Honaker “Jo” Combs, 82, formerly of Bandy, VA, and Hartwell, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at her home in Alderson, WV, following a short illness.

Born October 19, 1932, in War, WV, she was the daughter of the late Willard and Julia Smith Honaker.

Mrs. Combs was a homemaker and a graduate of Big Creek High School in War. She was a member of the River of Life Church of God in Alderson, where she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Mrs. Combs loved to spend time with her family and her church family. She was considered Mother of the Church family, and she will always be remembered for her undying faith and dedicating her life to serving God.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Pastor Phil E. Combs; a son, Paul David Combs; a daughter, Deanna Jo “Dee” Combs; and a brother, Harold “Bay” Honaker.

Survivors include three sons, Phillip Combs and wife, Cathie, of Chilhowie, VA, David Combs and wife, Rhonda, of Fort Spring, WV, and Justin “Groundhog” Combs and wife, Nicole, of Raleigh, NC; two daughters, Karen Eckman and husband, Mike, of Johnson City, TN, and Thressa Mitchell of Alderson; two brothers, Bob Honaker and wife, Paulette, of Ohio and Mike Honaker and wife, Donna, of Kentucky; five sisters, Delores Leffew of Georgia, Wanda Mills and husband, Lee, of Georgia, Janet Duncan of Georgia, Debbie VanDrie of Georgia, and Cathy Thaler of Tennessee; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild due in May 2015; many nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2015, at 11 AM at the River of Life Church of God in Alderson with Pastors Stewart Farley and Anthony Carter officiating. Burial will follow at 2 PM at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.

Friends may call Friday, February 27, from 6-9 PM at the church in Alderson and one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday.

Serving as pallbearers will be the men of the River of Life Church of God.

For those considering an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mrs. Combs can be made to the Pastor Phil Combs Building Fund for the River of Life Church of God, P.O. Box 548, Alderson, WV 24910, or at any City National Bank location.

Lobban Funeral Home in Alderson is in charge of arrangements.

Obituary originally published in the February 26, 2015, edition of the West Virginia Daily News.