Maxine C. Combs

Maxine C. Combs passed away Wednesday, April 14, 2010.
"Nine-tenths of education is encouragement." (Anatole France)
Maxine Clara Combs, nee (Turner) never stopped teaching and encouraging those around her to educate themselves. If you ever met Maxine, you know how true those words are. Maxine served as a grade school teacher for many years in the Springfield Township school system, retiring early from Milroy Grade School in mid-1970's due to severe hearing loss. Over the course of her teaching career she affected hundreds of children, teaching fundamental skills with both discipline and creativity. She could never go far in the Akron area without running into former students who still remembered "Mrs. Combs". Maxine attended Alderson-Broaddus College in the late 1930's in her native West Virginia. Marriage to her beloved husband, Elwood Combs, and WWII intervened and forced the suspension of her quest for a degree. She later returned to college while teaching and earned her bachelor's degree from The University of Akron. Maxine led a full and very active life, often wearing out those around her. In addition to teaching school she was a very successful real estate salesperson. She thoroughly enjoyed both selling houses and doing the legwork required to get a family into just the right new home. She was very involved in the Kappa Kappa Iota teachers' sorority, where she worked to help launch new chapters. Maxine was also active in the Akron Chapter of the American Business Woman's Association. But, for all her interests, Maxine's number one priority was always her family. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, always finding time to spend with her family. Her Sunday suppers were a family tradition for years and bring back warm memories of her wonderful cooking. After retiring, Maxine didn't slow down. She continued to golf, bowl, cook, and pursue her lifetime interest in the arts and crafts. She fired her own ceramics, crocheted, quilted, collected antiques and took up painting with her customary determination and skill. Her love of painting has left her family with many beautiful works of art to cherish and enjoy. In 1993 Maxine suffered a serious stroke which left her without the use of most of her left side. She worked extremely hard at all the therapy she received over the years and never gave up believing she would get better. She continued to paint and travel and learned to use a computer late in life to better communicate with family and friends all over the country. Her continual optimism and determination in the face of her stroke and hearing loss was an inspiration to those who knew and loved her. She never stopped encouraging others to better themselves. She truly was an amazing and unusual woman and will be missed by so very many. Maxine was born in Belington, West Virginia on May, 13, 1922 to Ernest and Ocie Turner. They preceded her in death, along with her husband of over fifty years, Elwood Combs, her brothers, Forrest and Stanley Turner, and her granddaughter, Linda Albaugh. Maxine is survived by her son, S. Lee (Judy) Combs and her daughter, Sheron Maureen (Ken) Paulin; grandchildren, Sheri Combs, Laurie Norval, Phillip Combs, Terri Burns, and Paulette Machor; ten great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Calling hours will be held Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. at the Newcomer Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Rd, Akron, where a funeral service will be held Saturday at 1:15 p.m. Burial will follow at Hillside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Montrose Zion United Methodist Church. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.NewcomerAkron.com.

NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, 330-784-3334.