William Price Combs September 3, 1923 - December 20, 2011 William Price Combs, 88, went peacefully to be with his Lord on December 20, 2011. His is survived by his devoted spouse of 57 years Jeanette Hester Combs. He was Born in Lexington, Ky. on Sept. 3, 1923, to the late Gilbert Reynolds Combs and Sarah Rucker Goff Combs. Rev. Combs was predeceased by a sister, Julia Combs Hanks, and brother, Gilbert Reynolds Combs, Jr. To cherish his memory are 3 children, Stephen Reynolds Combs and his wife Sandy of Salisbury, North Carolina; his daughter Marian Combs Gogel and her husband Jeff of Forest, Va; and son William Jonathan Combs, of Washington D.C.; and grandchildren Luke and Sam Combs and Jillian and Gilbrith Gogel. He is also survived by three nieces: Ruth Siminski of Cashiers, N.C; Sally Benton of Marietta, Ga; and Judy Wootton of New Braunfels, Tx. "Bill" was a United Methodist Minister for 44 years and as a son and father to United Methodist ministers, he was happy to be a part of 3 generations of ministerial service. He served 12 years in the Western North Carolina conference before transferring to the Virginia Conference in June, 1961. He served churches in Virginia including some in the Roanoke District. They include "Raleigh Court UMC" as Associate Minister in Roanoke from 1969-72, ''Trinity'', "Andrew Chapel", and "Ebenezer" United Methodist Churches in Botetourt County 1972-74, and "Highland Park UMC" in Roanoke from 1974-78. At age 13, with support and love from his father, ( a Scout leader and a "Beaver" recipient for exemplary service), Bill received his Eagle Scout award. He graduated from Darlington repatory School cum laude in 1940. Later, after attending Wofford College for 2 years, Bill transferred to Duke University and received his BA in 1944. He continued his education by graduating from Duke Divinity School in 1948. Bill had a tremendous love for people and focused on Pastoral counseling. He graduated with Clinical training in 1950 with internships at two State Hospitals. He was a charter member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and continued as a lifelong member. As an active member of Raleigh Court UMC, (20 years since his retirement), he participated in The Seville Friendship Sunday School Class. Rev. Combs was interested in the Middle East, particularly in Israeli and Palestinian relations. He prayed daily for World Peace. Sign language as a study and in groups and teaching was a joy and passion for him. He was active in the local Star City Hearing Loss Association and the state level Association. Bill enjoyed the outdoors and felt a reverence for God's creatures. A memorial service will take place at Raleigh Court United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mr. Milton Marks and Rev. Mr. Roy Miller officiating on Friday December 23,2011 at 2:00 p.m. with reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Raleigh Court United Methodist Church, to the Raleigh Court UMC Foundation, or the charity of one's choice. Oakey's South Chapel is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.oakeys.com. William Price Combs' father, Gilbert Reynolds Combs was the s/o Andrew Jackson Combs and Martha Reynolds. Andrew was the s/o Syra Combs and Mary "Polly" Roberts. Syra was the s/o Preston Combs and Nancy Stacy. Below is a story of the life of Gilbert Reynolds Combs. Carter [1928-10-30] [CHURCHES. METHODIST. FIRST.] [Herald. p. 12 col. 4-5] 497409 "Dr. Gilbert R. Combs to assume pastorate in Charlotte, N.C.; Rev. R. H. Daugherty comes here" Dr. Gilbert R. Combs, pastor of the First Methodist Church will exchange pulpits with Rev. R. H. Daugherty, pastor of the Meyers Park Methodist Church at Charlotte, N. C. The Rev. Gilbert Reynolds Combs, according to his own account, was born in a cabin in Owsley County, just over the county line from Breathitt County, on August 18, 1886. At age sixteen he left home for Berea, where he studied for seven years. He worked on the Berea College farm and graduated in 1904 from Berea's vocational school (having studied woodworking). In 1904 The Historical Register lists him as teaching in Booneville and living in Berea. By 1907 he had completed the two-year course at the Berea Academy, and then spent two more years taking college classes at Berea. He transferred to Kentucky Wesleyan College and graduated there as Valedictorian in 1911. While attending Vanderbilt the following year on a scholarship, he won the Founders Medal for oratory. Kentucky Wesleyan granted him a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1926. (Historical Register of Berea College, 1904, 1916; George Bain, biographical sketch) In 1913 Combs was ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Between 1911 and 1928 he pastored three churches in Kentucky, including the First Methodist Church of Lexington. From 1928-1954 he pastored churches in North Carolina; in 1954 he was at Love's Methodist Church in Walkertown, North Carolina, according The Berea Alumnus (25:11). During three of the years Combs spent at Berea, Prof. James Watt Raine, a Scot who began teaching English at Berea College in 1906, collected ballads from Berea students. (Raine's list of known contributors does not include G.R. Combs, but does include some Combs sources.) Although he may not have taken classes from Raine while he was at Berea, Combs had opportunity to realize that the songs he had taken for granted as a child were of interest to scholars. At some point he began to collect them himself. Carl Sandburg's 1927 collection, The American Songbag, cites G. R. Combs as the source of one version of "Red River Valley." Sandburg notes that "In a corner of his church study Mr. Combs has a collection of more than 300 mountaineer songs," and adds that "his singing of their ballads and ditties is quiet and convincing."