“Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:21

Martha Joe Combs, age 82, of Lompoc, California, passed from this life into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 6, 2026. Born on September 30, 1943, in Long Beach, California, Martha lived a life marked by extraordinary faith, selfless love, and tireless service to God and others. She departed this world just as she had lived in it — with the name of Jesus on her lips and the gospel of His grace in her heart.

A devoted and unwavering believer in Jesus Christ, Martha was a long-standing and faithful member of the Church of God. She served her congregation for many years as a Sunday School teacher and Youth Leader, pouring into the lives of young people with the same warmth and conviction she brought to everything she did. Those who knew her well remember that she never missed an opportunity to share the gospel — not as a duty, but as the overflow of a heart deeply in love with her Savior. To her very last breath, she was looking for someone to tell about the grace of Jesus Christ.

In many ways, Martha was the embodiment of the New Testament’s Martha — always serving, always doing, always making sure everyone else was cared for before herself. She wore many hats throughout her remarkable life: devoted wife and mother, homemaker, horse trainer, school bus driver, talented baker and cake designer, Sunday School teacher, and Youth Leader. She had a gift for instruction and was never shy about sharing it, though every word of guidance came wrapped in genuine love. She adored her horses and the open spaces they represented, and she adored her family even more.

Martha’s love story with David began when she was just 14 years old. They married in 1959 when she was 16, and the two walked together in faith and devotion for 66 years. Theirs was a partnership built on love, shared purpose, and the common foundation of their faith — a testament to the kind of commitment that endures through every season of life.

Martha is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years, David Paul Combs; her three sons, Bryan Combs and his wife Marianne, Joseph Combs and his wife Darlene, and Kelly Combs and his wife Amy; six grandchildren: Chris, Randy, Jeremy, Kody, Kelsey, and Andrew; and nine cherished great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a church family and a community of lives forever changed by her example and her love.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM at:

Place of Grace Church
816 N C St.
Lompoc, CA 93436

Family and friends are warmly invited to gather and celebrate the life of a woman who gave everything she had in service to her God and the people she loved. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that in Martha’s honor, you share the gospel with someone today — just as she would have.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." Proverbs 31:25