Walter Emmitt Combs, age 89, passed away Sunday, December 18, 2016 at his home. Mr. Combs was born June 4, 1927 in Lebanon (Russell County), Virginia to the late Howard Combs and Hazel Cook Combs. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brothers Harold Delo Combs, James Buster Combs, Roy Leon Combs, Truman Douglas Combs; sisters Eula Mae Combs, Frances Hicks; infant great-granddaughter Reagan McDaniel; and step great- grandson: Deven Butterworth.

Mr. Combs is survived by his wife Gaylene Anderson Combs of the home; children and their spouses: Roger Combs (Jackie) of Galax; Judy Combs Chamberlain (Dan) of Birmingham, Alabama; Brenda Combs Mitchell (Graham) of Floyd, Virginia; Vickie Combs Shupe (Larry) of Galax, Virginia; sisters and brother-in-law Linda Combs Dotson (Claude), Maralee Combs Elswick all of Abingdon, Virginia; brothers and sisters-in-law: Lewis Combs (Nell) of Newport News, Virginia, Arlen Combs,Willie Combs (Clarice) all of Manassas, Virginia; Randall Combs (Lois) of Lebanon, Virginia; grandchildren: Lisa Combs Sanderson (James), Erica Combs, Heather Combs Lytton, Kim Combs, Bryan Combs, Timothy Mitchell (Annmarie), Sharon Mitchell Nguyen (Toan), Janine Mitchell Butterworth (Rudge), Joel Mitchell (Sylvia), Eric Shupe (Kristie), Chad Shupe (Kellie), Ashley Shupe Feljoo (Nico), Aimee Church McDaniel (Jeff); 18 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at 11:00 AM in the Vaughan-Guynn Chapel with Dr. Graham Mitchell and Dr. Ronny Harrison officiating. Burial will be held Wednesday, December 21 at 3:00 PM in the Russell Memorial Cemetery, Lebanon, Virginia. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 10:00 AM until service time at the funeral home.