A 98-year-old man who is blind and in a wheelchair was baptized Saturday at his home that he built 63 years ago in Canyon Country.
Henry Gardener Combs, 98, was given baptism by immersion. It was officiated by Pastor White.
Henry Combs started to change his life and study the Holy Bible with Becky Combs, his caregiver of two years, after his wife died on Christmas of 2013.
Henry Combs started attending church and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior.
“It is never too late for anyone who would like to know the truth,” said Becky Combs.
Henry Combs was born to Asa and Alpha Combs in 1916. Growing up in a little town called Wheatland, Wyoming, he drove the school bus at age 16 while attending high school. He also worked on a local farm for one dollar a day, seven days a week during the summer.
In 1941, Henry Combs achieved his Master’s Degree in Stress Engineering and was offered a job at Lockheed of Burbank.
Henry Combs designed the P-38 in 1944, which helped to win World War II against the Germans.
“When Lightning Strikes,” written by Lockheed Martin, referred to the P-38’s versatility and ruggedness as “legendary,” and proving to be a turning point during the war.
On Independance Day in 1948, Henry Combs married Edna Caldwell in the San Fernando Valley.
They moved to Santa Clarita to start their family, having one girl and three bodys.
Henry Combs became the Deputy Project Manager for Lockeed’s U2 “Dragon Lady” project in 1950.
“President Eisenhower needed a new set of eyes in the sky and he would get them through the U-2 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft,” according to the Lockheed Martin Archives.
The U2 was completed in the summer of 1954.
In September 1998, Henry Combs spoke on the U-2’s development at the CIA’s “The CIA and the U-2 Program.”
In the early 1960’s, Henry was the head structural engineer for the SR-71 Blackbird. He also worked on the F-104, C-130 Hercules, the Hudson bomber, or “The Old Boomerang,” the XP-58 Chain Lightning, the Lockheed JetStar; and served as consultant for the design of the Space Shuttle, according to “Lockheed: The People Behind the Story.”
Henry Combs is honored by The Soaring Society of America’s “Henry Combs Perpetual Trophy.”
Henry Combs sailplaned from the 1960’s and in 1998, completed his 205th straight-out “Diamond Distance” flight.
Becky Combs is offering her invitation to anyone to help them learn about the prophecy in the book of Daniel and in the book of Revelation. She is available to visit a home or attend Wednesday night prayer. Contact her at (661) 252-1836.
The COC theatre department will present playwright Eric Bogosian’s gritty, but comedic, drama “subUrbia” for one weekend March 27-30 at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC) Black Box Theater. Focusing on themes of escape, personal re-invention and the American dream, “subUrbia” follows the evening activities of a group of…
[KHTS] - The Saugus Union School District emailed parents on Friday warning about cases of head lice since students returned from winter break. The email said parents of students in affected classrooms have already been notified. Office staff has checked every student on campus, returning students have been rechecked and…
Deputies from the Community Oriented Services Bureau (COPS), Antelope Valley Team, conducted a search warrant service at 34230 90th Street East, Juniper Hills, regarding an alleged cockfighting operation. The COPS Team was assisted by Los Angeles County Animal Control, Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Society for the Prevention…
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While I’m glad he made a decision that makes him happy, I’m confused about the very last line of the article, is this a commercial for in home religious support services? It kind of ended weird.
Miss Combs, our church is in the middle of a study
of Revelations. It can be found online at First Christian church
Lubbock Texas. It is the Noon Bible study series.
Blessings to you and Mr Combs.
Better to honor this man who has chosen eternal life with a telling of his history while he is still with us and has done so much for us. Much better than an obituary after he has passed and it is too late to let him know our appreciation. So what if it was a baptism. Do we really only ever want to read about tragedy, crime and negative events?
I worked with Henry @ the Skunk Works in Burbank. Was fortunate to be a ground crew to follow him & then help load his glider &’trailer it back to Mohave ca. On one flight he came down in the Owens valley& the next day went trout fishing in one of the small creeks. REALLY GOOD TIMES
Senator Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 816, the small business tax relief bill, which would exempt small businesses, with 25 or fewer employees and maximum gross receipts of $5 million, from paying the state’s $800 annual franchise tax.
Los Angeles County Public Works is closely monitoring a series of storm systems forecasted to bring light to moderate rainfall to the region, including the Santa Clarita Valley, through Friday.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) led a press conference on Tuesday, March 4, at the state capitol in Sacramento urging the federal government to protect funding for Social Security, Medicare and Medi-Cal as part of Assembly Joint Resolution 3 (AJR 3).
The Nostalgic Radio Show is making its annual return to The MAIN (24266 Main Street) with two rollicking fun evenings on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8.
When a cyber-attack hit a local elementary school district in 2024, Hsiawen Hull, executive director of infrastructure and information security at College of the Canyons, pitched in to help them recover and guide their decisions to improve their security posture.
Senator Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 816, the small business tax relief bill, which would exempt small businesses, with 25 or fewer employees and maximum gross receipts of $5 million, from paying the state’s $800 annual franchise tax.
Los Angeles County filed suit today against Southern California Edison and Edison International to recover costs and damages sustained by the County from the Eaton Fire.
Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has issued an advisory to clarify a point of confusion for property owners impacted by the recent fires regarding construction allowances that permit the rebuilding of a larger structure.
Santa Clarita Valley International, a tuition-free TK-12 public charter school, invites families to visit its campus and experience its innovative, student-centered approach to learning.
California State University, Northridge is working across disciplines to use machine learning to train a new generation of students in how to use existing data to prepare for potential disasters such as wildfires.
The Saugus Union School District Measure EE Citizens' Oversight Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 6, at 6 p.m. in the Saugus Union School District Office
Los Angeles County Public Works is closely monitoring a series of storm systems forecasted to bring light to moderate rainfall to the region, including the Santa Clarita Valley, through Friday.
The Saugus Union School District Asset Management Committee will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, March. 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Saugus Union School District Office in the Bramlett Room.
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board of Trustees will be held Wednesday, March 5, beginning with a closed session at 6:30 p.m., followed by an open session at 7 p.m.
The regular meeting of the city of Santa Clarita Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission will be held Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m. The commission will discuss the Begonias Lane Park playground refurbishment project.
Behind a powerful serve, The Master's University men's volleyball team did what they had to do to get past Olivet Nazarene (IL) 25-11, 24-26, 25-22, 25-16 Saturday night, March 1 in The MacArthur Center.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) led a press conference on Tuesday, March 4, at the state capitol in Sacramento urging the federal government to protect funding for Social Security, Medicare and Medi-Cal as part of Assembly Joint Resolution 3 (AJR 3).
For the second year in a row, The Master's University women's basketball team pulled off an upset to claim another GSAC Women's Basketball Tournament championship with a 72-66 win over the No. 1-seed Arizona Christian Firestorm Monday night, March 3 in Glendale, Ariz.
The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Symphony will welcome the Grammy-nominated ensemble Palaver Strings for a one day workshop on Thursday, March 13 from 4-7:30 p.m. at the College of the Canyons University Center.
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale, a community choir known for bringing the joy of music to the Santa Clarita Valley and the surrounding areas, has faced an unexpected financial setback due to ticketing platform Brown Paper Tickets' non-payment of more than $20,000.
"Support Structures," a joint exhibition of the work of Michelle Miracle and Donna Rooney, will be held at the Santa Clarita Artists Association Gallery in Old Town Newhall March 28-30.
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, March 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The board will hear a presentation from members of the Behavior Council about efforts to address student behaviors.
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28 Comments
Pam Carpenter. Fantastic
Vikki Verhoff Madrigal get a tissue!
Yeah!
While I’m glad he made a decision that makes him happy, I’m confused about the very last line of the article, is this a commercial for in home religious support services? It kind of ended weird.
God bless you, Brother. And thank you for your service as well. God is good!
This is all kinda awesome :-) P38, U2, SR71, nothing to really note about his career, huh? Wow! His eternal destiny is now sealed, welcome brother!
This guy sounds like he has a ton of stories to tell.
Tracy Miller
He probably knew my dad at Lockheed
Y is this news?
Because when we stop running this type of story, we stop being a small town once and for all.
this is never gunna be a small town again that was out the window when awesometown started
Agreed Justin, also let’s add what is it 200,000 more new homes. That should help our crime and congestion in this ” small town”
I appreciate this good news story. Thank you SCVTV.
Nice story but small town scv is not…. That was 25 years ago.
Denise Orloff you know thus guy?
My Dad work for Skunkworks too!!!!
Sioussat John
My dad worked for Skunkworks too
A baptism is news?
Proselytizing a lonely old man is news? I really don’t care about people’s religious comings and goings.
Love hearing positive news! The news can be so depressing at times & this story brought some light into the world today.
Nicole Navales
Great story to honor a great man. Thank you SCVTV.
Miss Combs, our church is in the middle of a study
of Revelations. It can be found online at First Christian church
Lubbock Texas. It is the Noon Bible study series.
Blessings to you and Mr Combs.
Better to honor this man who has chosen eternal life with a telling of his history while he is still with us and has done so much for us. Much better than an obituary after he has passed and it is too late to let him know our appreciation. So what if it was a baptism. Do we really only ever want to read about tragedy, crime and negative events?
Morley told me the story. So wonderful Vanessa!
I worked with Henry @ the Skunk Works in Burbank. Was fortunate to be a ground crew to follow him & then help load his glider &’trailer it back to Mohave ca. On one flight he came down in the Owens valley& the next day went trout fishing in one of the small creeks. REALLY GOOD TIMES