Lon Combs

Lonnie Earl Combs was born on September 30, 1950, to Loren and Fawn in Eldorado Springs, Missouri. He grew up fishing with his dad and grandfather, kicked rocks with the neighbor boys, and played Little League Baseball. He had two little brothers and a sister.

The family moved to Tulare, California when he was fourteen. He attended high school at Union High, graduating in 1968. During his time in Tulare, he made a lifelong friend in Bobby Wittman. They spent many nights racing cars which he loved to talk about.

Lonnie was baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn on January 17, 1969, by Brother Melvin Rossiter, in the Tagus Reservoir, in Tulare, California. He met the love of his life, Lavonne Marlene Boyd in January 1969. After only knowing her for four days he proposed marriage to her. They were married on May 3, 1969, in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Soon after they were married, they moved to Tulare, California. On March 12, 1970, their first son was born without the breath of life. They named him Lonnie Earl Combs II.

Then, they moved back to Grand Junction, Colorado where they welcomed into their lives three daughters, Kandy Jo, Tonja Leila, Lana Evelyn, and son Lance Earnest. Later, they moved to Palisade, Colorado where son Lane Eric completed their family.

They lived in their Palisade home for 39 years before making their final move to Vici, Oklahoma. During the years of raising their children in their Palisade home, many memories were made.

Family was one of the most important things to Lonnie. The home was always full of family, love, fun, and games. For years the family would gather every Sunday afternoon where food, fun, and laughter were always shared by all. The grandchildren have many fun memories of the time spent at Grammy and Grampy's house.

Lonnie was very active at the Palisade Little League where he was a coach, safety officer, and later the president of the league. He cherished the years he was involved there.

He was an active member of the Palisade Church of the Firstborn for many years. He was always first one to arrive and the last one to leave.

Through the years he acquired a large pop bottle collection which had been displayed in his shop building.

After retiring in 2007 from thirty-one years of service at United Parcel Service, he worked for a short time with his son Lance in the plumbing industry.

Unfortunately, in 2017 Lonnie was disabled and confined to a mobility chair. However, that did not stop him from continuing to work hard every day. He spent countless hours in his shop building dog houses and cat trees which brought him considerable satisfaction.

When Lonnie was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, he had a new dream to move Marlene to Vici, Oklahoma to live the rest of her days. With the help of God, this dream became a reality. Lonnie, Marlene, and his beloved dog Rusty made the move in January 2026. Being in Vici allowed him to assemble among the brethren once again which gave him such pleasure.

Lonnie is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marlene of Vici, Oklahoma, his children, Kandy and husband Darren Dwyer, of Vici, Oklahoma, Tonja Combs of Palisade, Colorado, Lana and husband Justion Cole of Rozet, Wyoming, Lance Combs and wife Mary of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Lane Combs and Crescent of Grand Junction, Colorado, thirteen grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, his mother Fawn Witten of Chino Hills, California, brother Tim Witten of Mountain Home, Arkansas, sister Rhonda and husband Ron Edwards Van Mueyen, of Victorville, California, many nieces, nephews, friends, family, and brethren.

He was proceeded in death by, son Lonnie Earl Combs II, dad, Loren Combs, cherished in-laws, Roland and Alama Boyd, brother Brent Witten, granddaughter Mackenzie Cole, great granddaughter Kambry McManus, and grandson-in-law Logan Mann.

Lonnie loved to have people in his home to visit, eat, play games, and no matter what time it was for anyone to leave he always said, "No need to rush off!" Lonnie didn't rush off. He lived a full life in which his family and friends have so many cherished memories of a wonderful son, brother, friend, husband, dad, and grampy. 

Memorial donations may be made to the
Vici Church of the Firstborn
c/o Shaw Funeral Home
P.O. Box 276
Vici, OK 73859.