Barbara Combs:
CLASS OF 1959
Springfield High SchoolClass of 1959
Springfield, VT
Goddard CollegeClass of 1984
Plainfield, VT
Community College of VermontClass of 1982
Springfield, VT
Commercial CollegeClass of 1961
Northampton, MA
Barbara's Story
Life
This is Barbara Combs. I was born in Springfield, VT, the eldest of 5 children. There was myself, Harry, Lois, Wayne and Donald. We went to the Methodist Church. I graduated in 1959 and went on to Northampton Commercial College for 2 years and graduated with a diploma. I later worked for Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Company. I moved on, and went to work for the Holstein-Friesian Association of America in Brattleboro, VT. I worked there for 3 years and was there when Kennedy was shot. I later moved out to Seattle, Washington and worked at the John W. Graham Book Company typing out orders for books. Then I went to West Palm Beach Florida and worked at a hearing aid dealership, and also took care of the owner's children. Later I moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL and worked for St. Clairs Restaurant Buffet. I met my first husband, Harley G. Rose in Ft. Lauderdale and we were married 2/28/1966. My mother Pollyanna Lasell became sick and we moved up to Springfield, VT to be with her. I got a job at the Fellows Gear Shaper as a Clerk Typist, typing orders for machine tool parts. My first child, Michael A. Rose was born in 1967. Heather Marie Rose followed in 1969. We moved back down to Florida and lived in Ft. Lauderdale, where Daniel Patrick Rose was born in 1972. We moved to Margate, FL. Then we moved back up to Vermont when Daniel was 2 years old. In 1979 my husband and I divorced and he died in 1980.I was on my own. IT was hard finding a job, especially with the hearing handicap I have had since birth. I did find work with Community Controlled Childcare in Springfield, VT since I could bring Daniel with me it was ideal. I then found work with Vermont Research and built circuit boards for computers. I began taking classes at Community College of Vermont and got my Associates Degree in Human Services in 1982. I also worked making roof trusses in the old Fellows Building for about 6 months or more. I went to the Goddard College GEPFE Program and got my Bachelors Degree in Human Services. I also ...Expand for more
went to work for the VA in White River Jct. , first as a clerk typist, later, to become permanent worked in Building Management as the only woman there. Later I transferred to the VA in Phoenix, AZ and worked in the mail room, and later worked in the insurance dept, and later in the accounting dept there. I took my family with me, as Vermont didn't have many jobs back in the 1980's. I hoped that they would have better luck finding work in Phoenix, AZ. I met my husband Haskell Combs in Phoenix and we have been together since 1988. I transferred to the VA in Asheville, NC so we could get to the east coast to be closer to our families. Then we transferred to the VA in Atlanta, GA, I had been hired by the same man that hired me at the VA in White River Jct, VT. When we got there, the Dept. of Agriculture in Gainesville, FL wanted me to come down. we wanted to be near the saltwater fishing areas so we transferred to Gainesville, FL. We both are cancer survivors, and Haskell has had a heart attack this summer. I had surgery for a cochlear implant, and also had water on the brain and a shunt was put in. We live out in the boonies of the tiny town of Morriston, FL and it is 45 minutes to Cedar Key, FL on the Gulf of Mexico.On 3/19/2009 my beloved hubby died of Brain Cancer. I could not bear to live in the house now that he was gone and put the house up for sale and it was sold. I wish you all the best in the future years to come. I have 1 grandchild that I helped raise, Haskell had 5 boys and he has 4 grandaughters now. Looking forward to hearing from friends and co-workers and college friends.I am now living in Tempe, AZ in an apt. with my granddaughter, Bobbie Lynn Rose and her mom, Heather Marie Rose-Stora. Heather is seriously ill and in liver failure and she is trying to get on the Liver Transplant List. My mother, Pollyanna Jones Lasell died on my Birthday of 6/4/2009 at the age of 92 years old. She had too many infections to fight and sucummed to them as well as pneumonia.
Barb Lasell Rose Combs
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Photos
