April 7, 1929–November 30, 2018

Dennis Guy “Pug” Combs, Jr., of Columbia, died Friday, November 30, 2018 at Tyrrell House, Columbia.

Born in Columbia on April 7, 1929, he was the son of the late Dennis Guy Sr. and Phoebe Cohoon Combs. He was married to the former Lynda Ruth Knight who survives.
He was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, the VFW, and American Legion NC Post 182, Columbia. He was a graduate of Columbia High School class of 1947, where he excelled at football, basketball and baseball.  He also played football while attending Randolph-Macon Academy.
He served in the 160th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army.  He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged.  For his service, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star.

Despite the loss of his mother and father at an early age, Pug enjoyed much success. Before his retirement, he worked at R. D. Sawyer Motor Company in Manteo. Prior to that, in addition to other endeavors, he ran a dry cleaners and owned a car dealership.

Pug was well known and well liked throughout Columbia and the surrounding area, where he lived most of his life.  Following a brief time on the NC State football team, he was a loyal and enthusiastic NC State fan. He was skilled at embellishing a good story and was seldom at a loss for words.  He, along with his enthusiasm and stories, will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Monday, December 3, 2018 at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 502 Main Street, Columbia, NC.  The Reverend Ben Van Staalduinen will lead and officiate the services, and he will be joined by the Reverend C. L. Reynolds who will provide a eulogy. Burial will follow at Azalea Memorial Gardens.

Friends should visit with the family at 1 p.m. (an hour prior to the funeral service) in the church fellowship hall, or later at the home, 107 N. Broad Street.

He was preceded in death by his brother Jean B. Combs and his two sisters, Jacqueline C. McClees and Patti Hamilton Touchton. In addition to his wife, he is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are by Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia, where online sympathy messages can be directed to www.bryanfs.com.