Mr. Kenneth M. Combs

Kenneth Combs who was the pillar of his family and a servant of his community and church passed away surrounded by his wife and children on January 28, 2017 in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. Kenneth is survived by wife of 58 years Collene Hollyfield Combs, his children Crystal Combs White (Christopher) and Kenneth A. Combs (Cheryle), two grandchildren, Lauren Lee and Troy Lee, and a great-grand daughter Ananda Gates. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Kenneth was born in Cincinnati to Burnaham and Ethel Cornett Combs in Cincinnati on November 9, 1930, joining brothers Dewitt and Sanford. Despite losing both of his parents during the depression in early childhood, he would never define his childhood origins as tragic. Instead it has provided the basis of his profound love of family and the roots that sustain them. The love, support and “toughness” of his grandmother shaped him and nurtured his love for family. As the 1949 Valedictorian of Liberty High School in Hazard Kentucky, he honored family tradition and attended Kentucky State College. In 1953, he graduated Magna Cum Laude, with departmental honors and as a member of Omega Psi Phi (another Combs tradition). He joined his beloved Uncle P.B. Cornett in Cleveland, Ohio. Kenneth taught industrial arts for six years in the Cleveland Municipal School District. Changing careers in 1966, he became one of the first licensed Packaging Engineers in the United States. As a Packaging Engineer at General Electric, he is the inventor of seven patents. He traveled all over the United States, Japan and Mexico to improve the production, safety and design of manufacturing packaging for General Electric. Kenneth took great care to ensure the comfort of production workers. Kenneth was a Deacon and involved member at his beloved Antioch Baptist Church. He actively served in the prison ministry and provided financial assistance to community members thru a deacon’s charity and the Antioch Credit Union, and participated in the book club. Throughout his entire life he served the community of Greater Cleveland, a Co-Founder of the Glenville Youth Athletic Association, a Co-Founder of The Case Western Reserve Historical Society, President of The Youth Baseball Coach at SOHIO Field, and President of the Shakerwood Association. Kenneth will be remembered mostly by his witty nature for most of his family and friends. This is why he was so beloved by many. He took great joy in traveling with his granddaughter on many school overnight trips and was known as “the best chaperone” sharing little known facts about each locale. Kenneth checked in regularly with his grandchildren by being a daily presence. He was also especially close to his wife Collene’s siblings. Kenneth attended and helped organize family reunions. He documented family recollections thru interviews and photographs and he has preserved that rich history of family thereby preserving a legacy for his children and extended family. His ability to document and recount this legacy was officially recognized by Smithsonian Institute and the Cleveland Museum of Art, when a wool quilt created by his grandmother Eliza Francis Hogg Combs, a native of Cameroon was authenticated as an original work of art by a former slave. We will honor his wishes and pursue his wish to donate this rare artifact to the National Museum of African American History. Kenneth loved Brown’s Fork, Kentucky. He made his family promise to honor his wishes to return to the church founded by his ancestors and rest eternally on the land he loved.

Mr. Kenneth M. Combs

November 9, 1930 - January 28, 2017