Phyllis Combs' Obituary
Phyllis J. Combs, 90, of Vandalia, IL, departed this earthly life on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Services will be held at the Hagarstown Baptist Church on Saturday, March 7th, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the start of the service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at McInturff Cemetery, rural Vandalia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hagarstown Baptist Church. Online condolences can be expressed at https://www.hohltandfilefh.com.
Phyllis was born on August 15, 1935, to Blanche (née Elmore) and Roy Bunyard. She was the fourth of five children and the only daughter—an honor she often noted with pride, recalling how thoroughly her mother spoiled her. She married Charles “Sonny” Conner in 1953 and later married Ronald Combs in 1976. They were married for 47 years. She was a loving and dutiful daughter, a devoted mother to sons Wesley and Michael, and her greatest joy was being Gram to Abigail Kennedy Combs. She was also a beloved aunt to a large and lively group of nieces and nephews, with whom she delighted in staying connected across generations.
Phyllis attended Vandalia High School and graduated from Mulberry Grove High School before completing cosmetology school in Springfield, Illinois. She returned to Mulberry Grove, where she owned and operated a beauty salon in her home for many years. In 1964, her son Wesley was born and Michael followed in 1970. She and her husband Ron moved to Edwardsville in the late 70s. During her time in Edwardsville, she became a foster parent to two young boys-Nathan Berkley and Rick Kelley.
Phyllis lived with a remarkable “can do” spirit. There was little she couldn’t figure out or accomplish. She spoke plainly and honestly, sharing her thoughts freely. You never had to wonder what she was thinking as she would quickly tell you. She had an entrepreneurial spirit. Across her life she wore many hats including master knitter, knitting instructor, avid gardener, cook extraordinaire, decorative painter, weaver, business owner—the list is endless. Phyllis was generous with both her time and her resources, always ready to lend a hand to family, friends, employees, or anyone who had fallen on hard times. She asked for very little in return—only respect and kindness. Through it all, she maintained a positive attitude and was often heard saying, “I’ve had a good life.”
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Ron Combs as well as her two sons, Wesley D. Conner and Michael S. Combs; her parents, Blanche and Roy Bunyard; and her brothers Glenn Bunyard, John Bunyard, and Paul Bunyard. She is survived by her granddaughter Abigail Combs; her brother Phil Bunyard; her stepdaughter Carol Yaeger; foster sons Nathan Berkley and Rick Kelley; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless friends whose lives she touched.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Fayette County Health Department & Hospice for their care and guidance in her final days. Deepest gratitude is also given to Mary Whipple for her loving care for nearly three years, and to Cindy Scholes for her support in the final months—both of whom greatly enriched the quality of Phyllis’s last chapter. Special thanks as well to Richard Funneman, MD, for his compassionate and attentive medical care.
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