Alvin Allen Combs' Obituary
Alvin Combs, a resident of Country Place and member of New Hope Church, passed away on November 8, 2025, at Creekside Alzheimer’s Special Care Center due to a high-grade brain glioma and multiple pulmonary embolisms. He was 89.
Born on January 24, 1936, in Royal Oak, Michigan, Alvin was the son of Friel Combs and Edith Burgess He grew up with an older brother, Charles (who is still living in Michigan), and a younger brother, Leon, who passed away in his 40s. Al was a hardworking youth, delivering papers and working on a dairy farm. He began his education in a one-room schoolhouse, which is now a museum. He graduated from Utica High School in 1953, where he excelled in football and baseball.
A few months after graduating, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. From 1954 to 1957, his service with the Marine Corps Detachment aboard the USS CURTISS involved classified participation in Operations Redwing and Wigwam, guarding and handling 12 hydrogen bombs detonated in the Marshall Islands. For 49 years, the mission's details were held in strict confidence. With the recent declassification of his service record, he was finally able to offer a firsthand account of the hydrogen bomb tests in the 2020 documentary film, Burning Sky. Al's vital contributions to national security were formally acknowledged with the Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal. Al’s Level Q Security Clearance enabled his participation in the 1969 Apollo Space Program (Flights 11-13) at Cape Canaveral, which included the first moon landing.
He began his career at Chrysler Corp, where he met his wife, Rita Livingston. They were married in 1958 and renewed their vows on their 65th anniversary. The couple shared a love for bowling, dancing, golfing, playing cards, and traveling, visiting every U.S. state and locations including Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Jerusalem, and Ireland. His passion for sports led to impressive achievements as a semi-pro bowler and golfer, earning him a perfect 300 game and a hole-in-one. Al was an avid fan of big band swing and jazz, and he and Rita enjoyed dancing the soft shoe or jitterbug for over 65 years. As a team, Al & Rita were top-producing realtors in Pennsylvania from 1994 to 1997 and in Pearland, Texas, from 1997 to 2024. When New Hope Church was built in 1997, Al dedicated 28 years to serving as a greeter. Known as “The Flagman,” he dedicated over two decades to crafting and installing flagpoles and flags for residents of Country Place. He also honorably represented the Marine Corps at their annual Veterans Day flag-raising ceremony.
The day after Christmas in 2024 while walking his 75-pound dog, Al was pulled to the pavement when a passing car brushed his dog, Brandi. He was released from the hospital the next day with fractures to his collarbone, ribs, and sinuses; however, internal brain bleeding went undetected until a month later, when its discovery led to a rapid decline in his dementia. A high-grade brain glioma was found after the bleeds were stopped. He spent two months in home hospice before moving to the Alzheimer’s Special Care Center. A week after move, multiple pulmonary embolisms were detected. He passed a few days later at the center.
Al is survived by his wife, Rita Combs; his children, Cheryl Combs Young and Becky Au of Pearland, and Brian Combs of Pennsylvania. He leaves behind seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, who all lovingly called him "Poppi." He was preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Jennifer Michalak, in 2010. All of Al’s daughters graduated from Dobie High School between 1977 and 1980 while the family lived in Sagemeadow. He was a devoted animal lover, treating all his dogs and cats like cherished family members.
Services: A viewing will be held at Southpark Funeral Home, 1310 N. Main St, Pearland, TX 77581, on November 20, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at New Hope Church 288 Campus, 3640 CR 58, Manvel, TX 77578, on November 21, 2025, at 11:00 am.
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