Jerry Leland McCombs was born November 22, 1945 to the late Leland Archie McCombs and the late Wilma Mae McCombs of Rushville, Illinois. He was the third oldest of 12 siblings. He was proudly married to Sharon Kay Schaeffer of Galax, Virginia. He was so proud when he became a father and enjoyed the love of his children Georgina Kay Lynn McCombs and Jarrod Robert Scott McCombs both of the home.

Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Navy September 9th, 1963 and went to boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL. He graduated from boot camp on November 22, 1963, his 18th birthday and the day President Kennedy was assassinated. During his illustrious career culminating as a U.S. Navy officer who traveled the world during his 22 ½ years of service he earned countless medals and awards. He served on the USS Lake Champlain (CVS 39), USS John A. Bole (DD 755) (Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam); USS Newport News (CA 148); USS Horne (CG 30) (Persian Gulf Iranian Hostage Crisis); USS Coral Sea (CV 43) (Gulf of Sidra, Libya Campaign); USS L.Y. Spear (AS 36) (Operation Desert Storm, Persian Gulf, Red Sea).

Along with his wife Sharon and their two children they returned to Havana, IL in 1992 to be closer to his family. Many memories were made in those four years being around the love of family and creating lasting friendships not only with his older siblings he grew up with but also the younger siblings that he didn't really get to enjoy while growing up. Accustomed to the movement during his career in the Navy they moved to St. Petersburg, FL in 1996, where he took on jobs as hotel maintenance manager and later as a legal assistant. The years in Florida were adventuresome to say the least and again many memories were made. Finally, in 1999, one last adventure was made to Galax, VA where he created a new home for his family. During this time Jerry coached Dixie Youth baseball teams and enjoyed and loved being around and teaching the sport not only to his son, but to other young men as well. Jerry worked for five years as an E-911 dispatcher finally retiring in 2007.

Jerry leaves to mourn not only his wife and two children but also his brothers and sisters-in-law, Jeffrey and Mary Jo McCombs of St. Petersburg, FL; James and Karen McCombs, Rushville, IL; Jon McCombs, Astoria, IL; Joel and Jeanie McCombs, Rushville, IL; and Jan and Sandy McCombs, Rushville, IL; his sisters and brothers-in-law Robert and Jerris Oest, Havana, IL; Larry and Jennifer Volk, Mt. Sterling, IL; Dan and Jackie Cogswell, Meredosia, IL; Todd and Joy Mendenhall, Havana, IL; and Sam and Julia Gregory, Chicago, IL; his aunt Elizabeth Galloway, Mt. Sterling, IL and countless numbers of nephews and nieces. One sister and brother–in-law preceded him in death, William and Janet L. Lavery as well as a sister-in-law, Philda McCombs.

Family will receive friends on Monday, July 19, 2010 from 4:00-6:00pm with funeral service immediately following at Vaughn Guynn Funeral Home, Galax, VA. The burial will take place at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, IL.

Donations may be made to Twin County Hospice of TCRH, 818 Glendale Rd, Galax, VA 24333, or Sugar Grove Methodist Church, RR2, Rushville, IL 62681.