Obituary

Funeral services will be Thursday, January 8, 2015, at 1 p.m. in New Freedom Baptist Church, 300 Sycamore St., LaGrange with Rev. Wade Sturdivant and Rev. Larry Anglemyer, Sr. officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, LaGrange.

Calling will be Wednesday, January 7, 2015, from 2 to 8 p.m. with an evening service at 6 p.m. in Young Family Funeral Home, Wolcottville Chapel, State Road 9 North, Wolcottville. Calling will also be one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church. ******************************************************************************

Avenell Smith, 73, of Wolcottville died peacefully Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 12:11 p.m., in her residence with her family by her side.

She lived in Wolcottville for over 30 years, coming from Kentucky.

She retired from Rome City Products. After her retirement she became a babysitter for her grandchildren. She was a very loving grandmother and spoiled her grandchildren at every opportunity.

Avenell was born February 1, 1941, in Ritchie, Kentucky to Cleveland and Beulah (Caudill) Ritchie. Her father preceded her in death. Her mother later remarried and she was raised by her mother and step-father, Herman Campbell.

On August 7, 1957 in Kentucky, she married Sebern "SC" Combs. He preceded her in death in 1975.

She is survived by two daughters, Barbara (Pete) Watts of Chicago and Linda K. Gibson of Wolcottville; four sons, Johnny W. Combs and Elmer L. Combs both of Kentucky, Sebern (Jennifer) Combs of Wolcottville, and Michael S. (Kelsey) Smith of Washington; 19 grandchildren; a host step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; three sisters, Dorothy Amburgy of Angola, and Kathleen Curtis and Bessie Perkins of Kentucky; and a brother, Robert Campbell of Sturgis, Michigan.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Burley R. Combs and a brother, Dallas Ritchie.

Funeral services will be Thursday, January 8, 2015, at 1 p.m. in New Freedom Baptist Church, 300 Sycamore St., LaGrange with Rev. Wade Sturdivant and Rev. Larry Anglemyer, Sr. officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, LaGrange.

Pallbearers will be Sebern Combs, Michael Smith, Pete Watts, Larry Ritchie, Drew Rohr, and Gavin Combs.

Calling will be Wednesday, January 7, 2015, from 2 to 8 p.m. with an evening service at 6 p.m. in Young Family Funeral Home, Wolcottville Chapel, State Road 9 North, Wolcottville. Calling will also be one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.

View a video tribute after Wednesday or send condolences to the family at www.youngfamilyfuneralhome.com