Long-term Brandon resident Harry Combs, 87, joined our Father in Heaven on Saturday, October 17, 2020, following a series of recent health issues.

Harry was the first-born son of Henry and Zona Combs of Tampa and was a 1952 graduate of Hillsborough High School where he starred as the "rugged and hard-hitting fullback" on the 1951 Terriers football team.

In November of 1952, Harry married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Dorothy "Earlene" Nussear, also of Tampa. Together, they raised a son, Harry "Lee" II, of Brandon, and daughter, Cheryl Combs Smith of Seffner. They, in turn, brought Harry loving children-in-law, Stan and Karen; four adoring grandchildren Lindsay, Haylee, Sam and Brooke; and three precious great-grandchildren Thayer, Everly and Aya.

Harry developed a strong work ethic early in life and worked steadily in a variety of jobs starting in his early teen years. Two of his more interesting, early-on vocations include sparring partner to Tampa's professional boxing community and weekend auto racing mechanic at the old Phillips Field.

Harry ultimately worked for the Tampa Electric Company for 35 years, and later, ran his own consulting firm supporting power plant construction in Guatemala and across the country for TECO Power industries.

Harry was an avid hunter and fisherman who enjoyed countless days afield and in Florida's pristine waters with his brothers and life-long friends from his youth. His love of the outdoors—and campsite camaraderie—was deep and one that he would help inspire and nurture among four generations of his family.

Harry also actively supported his community. He was a member of the Florida Army National Guard for sixteen years, ultimately achieving the rank of First Sergeant for B Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment. He was a long-term member of the Sertoma Club and Freemasonry where he became a 33 ^rd -degree Master Mason and Shriner.

Most importantly, Harry loved Christ. Although he was a 55-year member of New Hope United Methodist Church of Brandon, and may be remembered for the numerous times he ushered Sunday service, the greatest testament to his faith came through the way he lived—with quiet integrity and compassion for others.

Harry was predeceased by his parents, brothers Morgan and Rahl, brother-in-law Bob Nussear and sister-in-law Jeanne Combs. In addition to his wife and children, Harry is survived by his younger brother and life-long greatest fan, Ray Combs, of Fort Pierce, half-sister Mary Nall of Fredricksburg, TX, sisters-in-law Dorothy "Dip" Combs of Brandon and Corine Nussear of Clearwater, and dearest childhood friend, Thomas Hales, of Tampa.

Harry was the patriarch of our family for many years and we will miss him dearly.

We will miss his thunderous voice and resonating laugh.

We will miss his meticulously prepared yellow rice and chicken, southern breakfasts and country cooking.

We will miss his perfectly told, side-splitting stories that we never got tired of hearing and will endeavor to tell as well as he did for years to come.

We will miss his casual, yet astute, observations on life, and the lessons we learned from them.

We will miss his ability to fix everything with anything and for teaching us function is more important than form.

And in recent years, we will miss seeing him quietly sitting and observing, and basking in the love shared among the family he helped to create

Despite our grief, we find peace in knowing we witnessed a life well-lived—as measured by how much he was loved and adored by so many—and in knowing that he waits for us in Heaven.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Meals on Wheels, PO Box 6578 Brandon, FL 33508.