Alan Truesdale Combs

WHITEHALL | Alan Truesdale Combs, 66, of Whitehall, passed away Monday morning, Apr. 18, 2016, at home.

Born at Glens Falls Hospital on Nov. 26, 1949, he was the son of Ruby (Alexander) Combs and Richard M. Combs.

SGT Alan T. Combs was a retired disabled USAF veteran who served from 1968-1971 at Phan Rang Air Force Base during the Vietnam War, and afterwards at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington. He was honorably discharged due to combat related injuries he suffered from a 107mm rocket attack by the NVA. There were numerous attacks on the base during Alan’s deployment while the base was under USAF control before it was seized from the People’s Airforce of Vietnam in 1975.

During his service in Vietnam, Alan volunteered in his free time to raise funds and solicit donations for an orphanage he and fellow Airmen built near Phan Rang. Alan wrote numerous letters to individuals and organizations based in his home town of Glens Falls, NY, and his efforts resulted in several tons of food, clothing and assorted donations for the orphanage. He later received a letter of commendation from then Mayor Robert J. Cronin, thanking him for his efforts and for bringing pride to the City of Glens Falls.

Apart from his time in the Air Force, Alan also served as a police officer with Lake George Police Department, as well as working at his father’s business, Combs Electric.

On August 23, 1980, Alan married Marie Anne Rose Leclaire, daughter of Patricia (Guardyak) Leclaire and Lucian Joseph Leclaire, Sr., at Putnam United Presbyterian Church in Putnam Station, NY, followed by a honeymoon in Maine.

Alan was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and father-in-law who always lent a hand to anyone - family, friend or neighbor - in need. He had a mischievous sense of humor with an unmistakable laugh and loved spending time with family and friends.

Alan loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing from a young age. He relished living out in the country and would happily spend hours watching wildlife in his backyard. He was keenly interested in genealogy and traced his family tree back to the Middle Ages.

Alan always felt a sense of duty to serve his local community even after his time in the Air Force and serving with the police, and so he joined the West Haven Volunteer Fire Department with which he served for several years.

Besides his beloved wife of 35 years, Marie, Alan is survived by his brother Richard Alexander Combs and his wife Virginia (Eddy) Combs of Queensbury, and his sister Kathryn Elizabeth Walter and her husband Robert R. Walter of Queensbury.

He is also survived by five children: Carrie Anne (Combs) Java and her husband, Derek, of Queensbury, Alan Richard Vecchio and his wife, Kristy, of Queensbury, Shelley Marie (Combs) Morrissey and her husband, Mark, of Queensbury, Stephanie Kay Combs and her partner, Nicholas, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, and Stephen Christopher Combs and his wife, Stormy, of Portland, Oregon.

In addition, Alan is survived by seven grandchildren, five nieces, two nephews, and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Private arrangements have been made by Alan’s family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made online at www.vvmf.org/donate-now or sent to: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, 1235 South Clark Street, Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22202.

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