Marion William "Bill" Combs, 87, of Olney, died Friday, October 17, 2014, at his home.  His body was donated to Indiana Science Research Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Interment of cremains will be held later in Liberty Cemetery.

Mr. Combs was born October 8, 1927, in Olney, the son of Lloyd and Ina (Fuson) Combs. He married Cathy Hahn on October 4, 1953, in Robinson.

Mr. Combs was a graduate of Olney Township High School in 1944 and from the Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois, in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945-1947. He was a Southern Illinois egg producer from 1956-1971. In 1972, he designed, built and managed East Fork Golf Course until he retired in 1992. He turned the operation over to his son in 1993 and became an avid gardener. He also enjoyed golf and wrote poetry, which he shared with family and friends.

Mr. Combs is survived by his wife of 61 years, Cathy Combs, of Olney; son, Doug Combs and wife Terri, of Olney; daughter, Debra Combs, of Atlanta, Georgia; daughter, Jeanne Combs-Henry and husband Rex, of Bowling Green, Kentucky; brother, Gerald F. Combs; sister, Marjorie Zerkle; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Winifred Newton.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) - Tuesday, October 21, 2014