Willa Dean Combs passed away on June 3, 2024. She was born May 20, 1930, in Marquand, Missouri, the daughter of Jim and Myrtle (Fulton) Reagan of Patton, Mo. who preceded her in death. On November 25, 1948, she married the love of her life, William D. “Dub” Combs, who precedes her. For the first few years of marriage, they lived in the Spring Valley community. They later purchased a farm on Castor River on Hahn’s Mill Road where they lived the rest of their married life.
Preceding her in death is a daughter, Karen Gruhala, a brother and sister-in-law Ivan (Shelby) Reagan. Survivors include daughter Teri (Al) Moss of Fredericktown, son-in-law, Gary Gruhala, four grandchildren, Tim (Lacey) Moss, Allison (Curtis) Cureton, and Andy (Taylor) Moss all of Fredericktown and Jennifer (Eric) Oltersdorf of Santa Fe, N.M. 5 great - grandchildren, Charis and Zalie Moss, Mason and Castor Cureton and Jaxton Moss.
Willa Dean graduated from Patton High School in 1946 and began teaching in the fall at the age of 16. She taught in many rural one-room schools and later taught at East Madison Elementary school in Mine La Motte in the early 1960s. there she taught 6th grade and later 4th grade before retiring in 1987.
In 1983 after the death of her father, she began researching her family history. She and Dub joined the Madison County Historical Society where she was recording secretary, never missing any detail in a meeting.
With the information gained from her genealogical pursuits, she joined the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1989 under 4x great grandfather, Revolutionary War Patriot, Timothy Reagan. She later found other Patriots and honored them with supplemental applications. They were Dr. Martin Schultz and Frederick Emert, both 4x great-grandfathers. One of her greatest joys was traveling to Gatlinburg to visit the place where they lived and were buried.
In 1987, Willa Dean published a book, Reagan Family History, along with the help of a newfound cousin, Rudy Reagan. Through the writing of this book, she was able to meet and connect with many cousins she had never met before.
Willa Dean was known for her excellent cooking skills. Cherry dumplings, strawberry rhubarb pie, and peach cobbler were just a few of the desserts she was known for.
When she wasn’t cooking or pursuing genealogy, she was busy quilting. Many beautiful quilts were completed in the family room of their home. After entering Stockhoff Nursing Home in 2019, her quilting continued but on a smaller scale.
Willa Dean and Dub both loved the Lord and lived by the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Matthew 7:12. Many times they opened their home to friends and family to help in their time of need. The one verse that they clung to and believed in with all their heart was Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
In going through her things at the nursing home, a small notebook was found that she had written the following: Next time I go to church, tell them how I met the Lord…… at an old-fashioned altar in a small country church where my parents, my brother and I attended. This was during WWII. Everything was rationed including gasoline. We walked about 2 miles to church and 2 miles home. We wore old shoes or went barefoot. We took a wet washcloth and when we got close to the church we washed our feet, put on our shoes and went on to church. I dedicated my life to Christ in that church.
