David Lee Combs

URBANA – David Lee Combs, 82, of Urbana passed away at 9:50 p.m. Friday (Feb. 10, 2017) at Farmer City Rehab and Health Care, Farmer City.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Faith Church, 2111 N. Willow Road, Urbana. Pastor Marsh Jones and Pastor Dennis Skinner will officiate. Entombment will be in Grandview Mausoleum, Champaign.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy.

David was born on April 6, 1934, in Peoria, the son of Russell and Lucille Ellen Moore Combs. Lucille passed away when David was 5 years old. When his dad remarried, David was lovingly raised by Margaret Jones Combs, who was a godly influence in his life.

He married Elizabeth Lou Davis on June 10, 1961, in Danville. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Jeff and Jason (Kristi), both of Champaign; and two granddaughters, Olivia and Ashley. He is also survived by one brother, Wayne (Carol) Combs of Newnan, Ga.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Don and Richard; and a sister, Carol.

He graduated from SJO High School in 1952. He entered the trade and joined the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 149 (Champaign) on Aug. 13, 1954 - a 62-year member in good standing. He loved his trade and was good at it.

He enjoyed woodworking, restoring antiques, fishing and visiting with friends at various coffee shops.

Those who knew him loved him. He was a unique combination of strength, candor and an undefinable sweetness which was felt by many.

First and foremost, he settled his eternal destiny a long time ago when he accepted Christ as his Savior. He loved his wife and family, and his church. Whether it be attending the service of the church, or being in service for the church, he could be counted on. One could literally trace Dave's spiritual journey through the churches he helped build in his lifetime.

Dave had a heart for mission work, and in later years made trips to Honduras, Brazil and Cameroon. He had a huge love for children in Cameroon, making several trips there to make repairs at an orphanage. He knew that his time was limited for this work so he established a small workshop there with the tools needed for making repairs.

He struggled with a disease called DRPLA - a horrible disease - as gracefully as he could. David would say a big "thank you" to all of his caregivers through the years. He worked hard, loved deeply and finished the race.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family requests that memorials be directed to Faith Church, Urbana, to benefit missions or to an organization of the donor's choice.