Larry Wayne Combs, 79, of Rock, died Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Born October 11, 1945, in Princeton, he was the son of the late Alonzo Combs and Mary L. Coomes Combs.

Wayne was a humble, loving, gentle and kind soul who never met a stranger. He helped many people during his lifetime without expecting anything in return. He was a very wise man who could solve any issues and loved to debate many topics.

Wayne fought a hard battle over the past eleven months and had many discussions of his strong faith in God. In the past few weeks of his life, he was longing to see his brother, Glen and his mom and dad in Heaven. Special thanks to his sister, Pam Rickman, for being there through the hardest of times.

He was a devoted husband and a loving father and a proud pawpaw. He adored his daughter and his grandsons.

Wayne was a veteran of the US Army and was stationed in Germany from 1965-1967. He a was coal miner for 20 years, was VP of the UMWA Committee and union steward for union members with Eastern Coal Association. He was also an electrician, mechanic, plumber, heavy equipment operator and loved working on cars.

Wayne was a woodworker and loved making things for his family and carving treasures for them throughout the years. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, genealogy and attending car shows.

He played guitar and enjoyed strumming along with his friends, Johnny and Doug Bailey. He encouraged and taught his grandson, Trey, to play guitar. Wayne was truly a "Jack of All Trades."

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, N. Glen Combs; and one sister-in-law, Linda Combs.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Cecil Combs; one daughter, Cheryl C. Knowles and husband Jim of Bluefield, VA; two grandsons, Trey Knowles and Brock Knowles; three siblings, Donald Combs and wife Wanda of Dublin, VA, Pamela Rickman and husband Marvin of Princeton and Anthony Combs and wife Darra of Rock. He loved all of his nieces and nephews, Laura McComas and husband Keith, Rhonda Billings and husband Rocco, Angela Lovell and husband Rick, Jim "Jamie" Stanley, Kristie McBride and husband Kevin, Richard "Bo" Holt and wife Felicia, Sharon Cecil, Michael Combs, Keith Stanley and wife Robin, Samuel Combs and Zachary Combs; and special great nieces and nephews, Cassie Evans, Kendra Vanhoozer and husband Alex and Tyler Cecil and wife Grace.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton, with Pastor Ray Mills officiating, where military honors will be conducted by the Mercer County Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will be at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton at a later date.

The family will receive friends Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. until service hour at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bailey-kirk.com.