United States Army World War I Veteran
CULBERSON-MEEKI moved to Dickens County in 1912 with my mother, Mary Elizabeth Culberson, when I was just a few months old. My father had been killed in Colorado City, Texas, and we moved in with my mother´s brother, Frank Williams, and his family, on a farm between Spur and Dickens. Some time later we moved to an adjoining farm north of Duck Creek. In 1917 my mother began working as a telephone operator in Clairemont, and we moved there, finishing the trip riding with the mail carrier in a Model T Ford.
On February 14, 1918, my mother married Roscoe P. McCombs, a telephone line repairman, in Clairemont. Shortly afterwards, Roscoe was drafted and spent 9 months in the U. S. Army until WWI ended. After his discharge, Roscoe, my mother and I moved to a farm north of Duck Creek, north of Spur.
About a year later we moved to Spur and lived in a house rented from Josie Gaine´s father, which was next to the Oliver House. Roscoe worked as a cook at the White Swan Cafe between the Sullivan Hotel and Bell´s Cafe. In 1921 Roscoe bought a hamburger stand behind Harris Meat Market, which was on the corner of Burlington and Harris streets, and named it "Roscoe´s Hamburger Stand". Afterward, he moved the stand across the street to a vacant lot behind the building next to the Sol Davis Department Store.
My sister, Mary, was born in 1922, and in 1924 my sister, Juanita, was born. Shortly afterward, we all moved to a new house at 307 W. Harris Street. The 3 of us went to school in Spur. I was always known as the "McCombs" boy. I worked at the Spur Bakery after school and on Saturdays until 1931, when I quit school to join the Army. I would have graduated from Spur High School in 1931.
In 1940 I married Ruth Meek, who had moved to Spur in 1931 to live with her sister, Nell Addy. She was graduated from Spur High School in 1932 and worked at Speer´s Variety Store. My older son, Danny, was born in 1941 in Carmel, California, while I was stationed at Fort Ord, and my younger son, Darryl, was born in 1947 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, while I was stationed there. During my 30-year military career, I was also stationed at Corrigador in the Philippines; Ft. Warren, Wyoming; Camp White, Oregon. While I was in combat in Europe during WWII, Ruth and Danny lived in Pampa, Texas. After the war, I was again stationed at Fort Sill. The Minot, North Dakota; Ft. Bliss, Texas (twice); Ft. Lewis, Washington; Richland, Washington; Erlangen, Germany; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; and Fort Carson, Colorado, near Colorado Springs. I retired from the Army March 31, 1962, as a Chief Warrant Officer at Fort Carson and live in Colorado Springs with my wife, Ruth. My mother died in Spur May 19, 1960, and Roscoe died shortly thereafter. They are both buried in the Spur Cemetery.
My sister Mary lives in Jacksboro, Texas with her husband Marlon, and my sister Juanita also lives in Jacksboro, where she moved right after her husband died.
George Culberson
Mrs. Roscoe McCombs, 68, was buried in Spur Cemetery Saturday following funeral services at the First Baptist Church. Rev. Riley Fugitt, officiating.Born in Santa Anna, Texas in 1892, Mrs. McCombs was married at Clairemont in 1917. Mr. and Mrs. McCombs came to Spur in 1919. She was a member of the First Baptist Church. She died May 19, following a lengthy illness.
She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Mrs. Nita Sine, Ft. Smith, Ark.; Mrs. Mary Reeves, Artesia, NM; one son, George Culberson, Colorado Springs.
Pallbearers included Marion Jordan, Bank Smith, R.J. Bell, Abb Bingham, Rex Holder, George Gabriel, Charlie and Babe Berry.
©The Texas Spur; Thursday, May 26, 1960
Funeral services for Roscoe Payne McCombs will be held today at the First Baptist Church, Spur. Rev. Riley Fugitt will officiate, assisted by Rev. Tommy Allen, Hale Center.He was born July 31, 1892 at Grady, Texas.
Mr. McCombs came to Dickens county in 1918 and married Mary Elizabeth Culberson at Clairemont, Texas. She preceded him in death about 2 months ago. He died August 2 at Spur. He was a member of the Clairemont Baptist Church and the Odd Fellow Lodge.
Survivors include one son, George E. Culberson, Colorado Springs, Colorado, two daughters, Mary L. Reeves, Levelland and Nita Sine, Ft. Smith, Ark. and four sisters, Mrs. Louise Johnson, Jayton, Vera Ratliff, Bowie, Fannie Bell Bingham, San Diego, CA and Bertie Mae Witt, Girard; three brothers, Werner McCombs, Abilene, Iva McCombs, Bakersfield, CA and Mack McCombs, Austin, also survive, along with five grandchildren.
Pallbearers include Marion Jordan, Estell Smith, R.J. Bell, Abb Bingham, Rex Holder, George Gabriel, Charlie Witt and Lee Snodgrass.
Honorary pallbearers are Babe Berry, Earl Thomason, John Reed, Sam Battles, Tom Cooper and Luther Crafton.
Interment will be in Spur cemetery under the direction of Campbell funeral home.
©The Texas Spur, August 4, 1960
Transcribed by Becky Hodges, September 2004
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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