Leon D. Combs

Dr. Leon D. Combs departed this life on May 21, 2017.  Dr. Combs was born on October 5, 1921 in Davenport, Oklahoma the son of Troy P. Combs and Beulah Doyle Combs.  Dr. Combs graduated from Davenport High School in 1938 and was valedictorian of his class.   He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts.  While at the University of Oklahoma he was a member of the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band and was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Epsilon Delta and Phi Beta Kappa honorary scholastic fraternities.  In 1944, he graduated from the University Of Oklahoma School Of Medicine at the age of 22, ranked second academically in his class.   He married Lorraine Louise Coble of Seminole on March 10, 1944 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.   Dr. Combs was the chief of staff at the Shawnee Municipal Hospital until its closure.  He was the first chief of staff at Mission Hill Memorial Hospital when it opened and served in this position for over ten years.  He was a member of the staff until his retirement on December 31, 1991.  The Pottawatomie County Medical Alliance planted a tree in his honor on the grounds of Mission Hill Hospital in 1992.  In addition, the street leading to the Mission Hill Hospital emergency room was named in his honor -- Dr. Leon D. Combs Drive.   He was a member of the greatest generation, having served as a medical officer in the US Navy during WWII.  He was attached to the 3rd Marine Division and later to the 6th Marine Division in north China.  He opened his medical practice in Shawnee in 1947.  During the Korean War, he was again called back to the Navy.  After the war, he resumed his practice in Shawnee until his retirement.   Dr. Combs enjoyed the game of golf for over 65 years.  He was a scratch golfer for many years, playing courses all over the world.  He shot his age more than 2,000 times and had many golf partners over the years.  He was an avid University of Oklahoma sports fan and a season ticket holder for the University of Oklahoma football teams for over 60 years.  In 2010, Dr. Combs was honored by the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department during a home football game.   For many years, Dr. Combs served as the physician for the Shawnee High School athletic teams.  He was an instructor of medicine in the hospital administrators program at Oklahoma Baptist University.  He was the chairman of the committee which originated the licensed practical nurse program at the Shawnee Municipal Hospital.  Later, he transferred the practical nurse program to Mission Hill Hospital and then added it to the curriculum at Gordon Cooper Vo-tech School.  He was instrumental in bringing the University of Oklahoma family practice residency program to Shawnee, serving as an associate professor.  Over the course of his career, he delivered thousands of babies to Shawnee families.   Dr. Combs was a past president of the Pottawatomie County Medical Society and served for many years as the editor of the Journal of the Pottawatomie County Medical Society.  He was a delegate to the Oklahoma State Medical Association until his retirement in 1991.  He was a life member of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Practice and the International College of Surgeons.  He was one of the first Board certified Family Practitioners in Oklahoma and often stated he treated “the skin and its contents.”   Dr. Combs was predeceased in death by his parents, brothers Carl Combs and Harold Combs, wife, Lorraine, and son Bruce Carl Combs.   Left to cherish his memory and celebrate his life are sons: Gary A. Combs and wife Sharon of Topeka, Kansas; Douglas L. Combs and wife Janet of Shawnee, Oklahoma and Craig D. Combs and wife Jan of Oklahoma City; grandchildren Christopher Combs and wife Kaelie of Norman, OK, Eric Combs and wife Natalie of Edmond, OK, Steven Combs and Scott Combs both of Topeka, Kansas; great-granddaughter Allie Raper of Norman, OK; numerous friends, golf partners, former patients and colleagues.   Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday May 23, 2017 at Walker Funeral Home.   Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday May 24, 2017 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Shawnee, Oklahoma with burial to follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.