Obituary: Bertha Ann (Lutes) Combs

Our beloved mother, Bertha Ann (Lutes) Combs, passed away peacefully from natural causes, Sunday, May 19, 2025, at Serenades Assisted Living Facility in Winter Garden, Florida. She was 94 years old. 

Bertha Ann was born in Neon, Kentucky, and grew up in the small town of Hazard, the daughter of the late Benjamin Franklin Lutes and Marguerite (Knox) Lutes. She married her teenage love, Roderick Raymond Combs Jr., on Aug. 20, 1949, and remained by his side for 70 years until he passed away in 2020. Together, they birthed and raised five children.

From a young age, Bertha Ann excelled in both academic achievement (especially math) and musical talent. She went to college at 16 years old, was accepted into the sorority Alpha Xi Delta at University of Kentucky, and in 1949, was named queen of the UK Pershing Rifles. In college she majored in home economics, but her true passion was music, and she trained her voice and studied piano throughout college and into adulthood. Her beautiful soprano voice delighted and moved congregations on many Sundays at the First Baptist Church of Windermere. A devout Christian, she gained great comfort and strength from her faith, attending services, teaching Sunday school, and studying the history and scripture of the Bible. 

For 40 years, Bertha Ann devoted her energies and care to raising her children, shepherding them through childhood and into college. In 1981, she went to work at Sun Bank in Orlando, beginning as a teller and working her way up to vice president, before retiring in 1995. Her colleagues, friends and family knew her to be gifted, an insightful presence, with a lovely smile and kind word for every person she met. Her loving warmth and generous spirit will be deeply missed. 

Bertha Ann leaves her five children, Barbara Ann Combs Alward, of Seattle, Margaret Ray Combs, of Seattle, Roderick Raymond Combs III, of Orlando, Cami Combs Wass, of Windermere, and James Owens Combs, of Orlando, to cherish her memory; along with her two sons-in-law, Bruce Alward, of Seattle, and Mike Wass, of Windermere; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; and her two dear sisters-in-law, Audrea Spicer, of Los Angeles, and Barbara Faye Combs, of Louisville, Kentucky. 

The family received friends at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Family Church — Windermere Campus (First Baptist Church of Windermere), Florida, followed by an 11 a.m. service, with Family Church Music Director Ray Lloyd officiating. Interment followed at Dr. Phillips Cemetery, Orlando, where she was laid to rest beside her husband.  

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations go to the Alzheimer’s Association.