William Combs

WILLIAM “BILL” COMBS
Bill left this beautiful blue planet, peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and his cat Blue, who remained near his buddy the entire day, after a fierce, incredibly difficult and draining 14 month battle with inoperable brain cancer - glioblastoma. Memorial Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, October 22, 2012 at Speaks Suburban Chapel; 18020 E 39th Street, Independence, MO 64055. Bill was born and lived in Kansas City, KS, youngest child of Lourene & Jimmie; moved to and grew up in southern California, and lastly, called Independence home. Bill was proud to have driven a straight truck for Pulse Transportation for 7 years, to have worked for Hap, Clarence and Dave at C&M Cartage for more than 19 years, and to have worked as “oil field trash” on a drilling rig for Hydro-Test in Long Beach/Huntington Beach, CA for over 20 years. Bill was an Army veteran, a giving, loving, devoted husband to Patti, and who enjoyed nothing more than being a grandpa, “Papa”, to his grandchildren. He loved spending time with family, his Wayside Waifs shelter cats, Blue and Breezie; washing, waxing, and going to car cruises with Truck Jr., his black 2000 Chevy S-10 Extreme pickup, snacking on chocolate or Jack in the Box tacos, and listening to the daytime shows on 90.1, KKFI. Bill loved music of all kinds, from Kid Rock to classical, from Jimmy Reed to Tupac/Dre’s “California Love”. His local favorite was the blues band, Trampled Under Foot. Bill was a member of the Goodguys Hot Rod Club & also the NHRA. He loved watching NHRA drag racing both on TV and in person, attending the NHRA drag races at Heartland Park in Topeka, KS, every year, and especially cheering on John Force, who shared his alma matter, Bell Gardens High. Bill enjoyed Nascar races, cheering on his role model, Dale Earnhardt Sr., whom he met in 1996, and more recently, Kevin Harvick. He was an Oakland Raiders fan married to a Chiefs fan, which made Sunday’s fun. Bill enjoyed fishing, spending time outdoors at Burr Oak CA, or just sitting in the back yard relaxing while burning wood and watching his wife grill, and of course, who could forget, his Starbucks grande decaf iced mochas, extra whip.
Bill leaves behind for now, until they meet again, his wife of 21 years & sole caregiver for the past 416 days, Patti Combs; his sister, Joyce South, husband Jim, of Edwardsville, KS; his aunt, Joanna Sivils of California; sisters-in-law Barbie Murphy of Avondale, MO, who was his ultimate “spoiler”; Debbie Hunsucker and husband Ken of Canton, SD, who are the current caretakers of Truck Jr.; daughters Krista Kisner, husband Joel of Las Vegas, NV; Kelley Huskey, husband Jason of Rancho Mirage, CA; April Coulson, wife Mary of Independence, MO; beloved grandchildren Kyra, Ariada, Kate and Jason “Bubba” and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. We’d like to send a very special thanks to the incredibly caring nurses and staff of St. Luke’s Plaza Infusion Clinic, St. Luke’s Home Health & Hospice, St. Luke’s Cancer Center, Dr. Michael Salacz & staff, Carolyne Cook and the local brain tumor charity, BeHeadStrong.org. NO FLOWERS. Bill would like for people to please make their donations to BeHeadStrong Inc. P.O. Box 25525 Overland Park, KS 66225, Stand Up 2 Cancer File 1224; 1801 W Olympic Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91199, St. Luke’s Hospice, radio station KKFI, KAMF.org, or to their favorite charity of choice. Bill was one of a kind, a bright shining light in all of our lives, and will be deeply and greatly missed by all who crossed his path.