Rosemary Noel Combs of Pineville, KY, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved her dearly.
What follows is not the whole story, but a thread of it.
Rosemary held deeply to the Catholic faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
The community of faith holds its own well — and Rosemary was held.
Rosemary Noel Combs, 100 of Pineville, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2026, surrounded by her family at the Pineville Community Health Center. Rosemary Noel, the third of four children born to Lawrence John Noel and Clare White Noel, came into the world on July 4, 1925, in Cresson, Pennsylvania. In 1938, the family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which became their “home”.Rosemary graduated from St. Raphael’s Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, then attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. It was there she learned the workings of the airline industry, including the Morse Code, how to track the weather, and communications through airline radio. Her career with Capital Airlines allowed her to travel often in the United States - Chicago, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Denver - and she eventually was transferred to Alexandria, Virginia, to work in the reservations department, as well as the meteorology department. Deciding to move back to Pittsburgh after a year of living in Alexandria, Rosemary was hired by Pennsylvania Railroad using the teletype and communication skills she had mastered, directing railroad cars.During this time period, Rosemary met Robert Mason Combs, from Pineville, Kentucky, who happened to be a student at the Pittsburgh Art Institute. A courtship developed with a few twists and turns, one being that Rosemary told him she dreamed of having a large family and wasn’t sure he could support that dream as an artist. Taking note, Mason enrolled and graduated from Duquesne University School of Pharmacy in Pittsburgh. They married on September 18, 1954, when she became Rosemary Noel Combs, and the couple moved to Pineville, Kentucky, where she immediately became involved in her new community.St. Anthony Catholic Church - Parish Council, DRE, Ministry Formation graduate Kentucky Catholic Bishops’ Recognition Award Pineville Women' s Club President Pineville City Schools PTO, Band Boosters, Athletic Boosters Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, various committees including Chairperson Bell County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Bell County Lifetime Chamber Member Award Pineville Rotary Club Woman of the Year, received a Paul Harris Fellow Interfaith of Bell County Board of Directors Pineville Library Board of Directors Pineville-Bell County Community Action Agency Bell County Community Development Board of Directors “Picnic with the Pops” Lexington Philharmonic Concert Co-Chairperson Owner of Flocoe Drug Store.In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Mason Combs; brother, Rev. Damian Noel; and sisters, Agnes Noel Miller and Irene Noel Stein.Rosemary is survived by her children, Mary Combs (Jack) Cunningham, John (Susan) Combs, James (Dorothy) Combs, Martha (Tuck) Combs-Woolum, David (Teresa) Combs, and Ann (Bob) Combs-Gaines; grandchildren, Katie (John) Tashjian, Patrick (Becky) Cunningham, Beth (John) Beeler, Becky (Jeremy) Collett, Blair (Lucas) Littleton, Joseph Combs, Becca (Brandon) Moore, Tyler Woolum, Kelsey (Keith) Lowe, Tucker (Ellie Jane) Woolum, Matthew (Lucia) Combs, Mark (Maria) Combs, Sarah Combs, Jack Gaines, Robert Gaines, and William (Emily) Gaines; great-grandchildren, Hayden, Luke, Mia, Mason, Noah, Hudson, Owen, Wyatt, Palmer, Alexandra, Caroline, Beckham, Tatum, Will, Graham, Brooks, Collins, Noah Keith, Lily, Jack, and Ruthie; caregivers, Audrey Brock, Kim Miracle, Tresa Miller, Charlene Boger, Loretta Bingham, Linda Hibbitts, Randy Lundy, and the staff of Pineville Community Health Center; special friend, Edith Asher; and a host of other relatives and friends.Private funeral services will be held at the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Pineville. Mass to be celebrated by The Most Reverend Bishop John Stowe, OFM. Conv, Bishop of Lexington. Concelebrated by Fr Yohanes V Akoit, M.SS.CC , Pastor of St Anthony, and Fr John Moriarty, Rector of Christ the King Cathedral, Lexington Ky, Fr Marisaltheu Jesuraj HGN, Fr Dickson Terzunqwe, M.SS.CC. , Pastor of St Gregory Barbourville, Ky , Fr Terrence DeSilva, Pastor at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Harlan, Ky., Fr Dan Noll, Vicar General, and Fr Dennis Knight, retired former Pastor.Pallbearers will be Joseph Combs, Mark Combs, Matthew Combs, Patrick Cunningham, Robert Gaines, William Gaines, Jack Gaines, Tyler Woolum and Tucker Woolum.Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church St. Julian Catholic Church, 118 E. Chester Ave., Middlesboro, KY, 40965) and the Mason & Rosemary Combs Family Scholarship Endowment at Morehead State University, P.O. Box 628, Morehead, KY, 40351 or online at alumni.moreheadstate.edu/combs.The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Pineville.Great epic miracles still occur. You are proof that this is so. They let Mason into Pittsburgh - and then they let you out. The greatest things to come out of there have been steel - and the Steelers - and you! Dr. James S. GoldenArnett & Steele Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Pineville is honored to serve the family and friends of Mrs. Rosemary Noel Combs.
