Share Service Information for Richard McCombs

Obituary

Richard Lee McCombs of Upper Arlington, Ohio, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2022, at First Community Village, Upper Arlington, Ohio. Richard was born on April 9, 1932 in Long Beach, California, to Charles McCombs (USN R. Admiral Retired) and Bernice McCombs. Richard attended Upper Arlington High School and graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia. While a student at Washington-Lee, he was active in Crew serving as coxswain; His team was victorious while competing in the 1949 National Regatta. A 1954 graduate of the Ohio State University, Richard was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, and earned letters in Cheerleading, Lacrosse and Soccer. Following graduation with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree, he entered the United States Marine Corps; He earned his Wings as a Naval Aviator on August 8, 1956, and qualified as a carrier pilot in Pensacola, Florida. While in training in Pensacola, he met US Navy Nurse Florence Kruszewski; They were married on December 3, 1955. Richard had an extensive USMC aviation career, from the Grumman F9F, Douglas AD Skyraider and later the HRS helicopter. On January 31, 1957, while stationed at NAS Opa-Locka, Richard executed a textbook non-powered water landing of his AD Skyraider near Miami Beach following a catastrophic engine failure and was rescued by Helicopter. Following his military service, Richard worked as a commercial artist and advertising executive, ultimately creating The Copy Shop printing business. In later years, he was active in The Quiet Birdmen, Northwest Kiwanis, and the Central Ohio MG Owners club. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 67 years "Cookie" McCombs. He is survived by children; Tim (Barbara) McCombs, Mark (Mary) McCombs, and Amy Fredrick, grandchildren; Megan (Seth) Heydlauff, Ben (Jenn) McCombs, Paige Fredrick, Matthew (Caroline) Fredrick, Andrew McCombs, and James McCombs, great-grandchildren; Sam and Annie Heydlauff, all of Columbus, Ohio, and brother-in-law; George Kugler of Wernersville, PA. Richard was a creative and talented artist, proud Marine and was extremely well-traveled. He was a dedicated Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather who encouraged excellence in all endeavors. Richard will be inurned at a later date at the Chapel of St. George, Gethsemane Cemetery, Reading, PA. Condolences may be sent via www.johnquint.com