Dr. Samuel’s Obituary Dr. Samuel Leslie Combs III died Friday, January 18, 2019 after a ten-month battle with brain cancer. Sam Combs was born in Lexington, Kentucky on October 11, 1942. He spent his early years on a one-acre tobacco farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse.
He went on to graduate from Duke University, attending on a swimming scholarship, and later the University of Kentucky Medical School. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having been drafted during his surgical internship, serving on a MACV advisory team in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970, and finishing his service at Fort Carson, CO from 1970 to 1971. Sam then completed his residency in orthopedics at Charlotte Memorial Hospital (now Carolinas Medical Center) where he and his wife of 45 years, the former Mary Laurie Fraser, met in the cafeteria line.
Dr. Combs moved to Panama City in September 1975. Later that same year, he performed the first total hip replacement at Bay Memorial Hospital, after training the hospital staff in the new procedure. Early in his career, Dr. Combs worked closely with Dr. W. Roland McArthur, whom he met on his first visit to Panama City.
Their families have now been friends and next-door neighbors for over 40 years. In the 80’s, Dr. Combs did volunteer work with Orthopedics Overseas in St. Kitts, Nevis, and St. Lucia. He coordinated care for numerous children at the Shriner’s Hospital in Tampa.
In 2000, Dr. Combs founded Southern Orthopedic Specialists, P.A. in order to assure adequate orthopedic care for area citizens, and to provide ER trauma coverage at Bay Medical Center. Sam always said that he could work anywhere, but he came to Panama City because this is where he decided he wanted to live. He shared this principle with every potential physician he ever recruited – choose where you want to live first and foremost, then succeed there by being good at what you do.
Sam loved to water ski and fish on the beautiful waters of St. Andrew Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. He made countless trips to Central America to billfish, and was a strong advocate of tag and release conservation programs. He was also an instrument-rated pilot for many years.
Sam was an Elder at Grace Presbyterian Church, a member of the Men’s Sunday School Class, and a member of the Handbell Choir. He served on the original church building committee. In addition to his wife, Laurie Fraser Combs, Sam is survived by son Jason Combs of Savannah GA, daughter Audrey Combs Schmidt (Steve) and one granddaughter, Annabelle Laurie Schmidt.
He was predeceased by his father S. L. Combs Jr., his mother Ann E. Cox, and his sister Constance Wilson. The family would like to thank Sam’s partners at Southern Orthopedic Specialists, local medical colleagues that supported him during his treatment, and the Brain and Spine Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston. A special thank you is given to the caring staff of Covenant Hospice.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday January 27, 2019 at 3:00 PM at Grace Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Grace Cares c/o Grace Presbyterian Church, 1415 Airport Rd. , Panama City, FL 32405 or the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
