Willie Edward "W.E." Holcombe

Funeral services for Willie Edward “W.E.” Holcombe, 77, of Groveton will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Curtis Coombs officiating. Graveside services with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Nogalus Prairie.

Mr. Holcombe was born December 9, 1946 in Lufkin, Texas to the late Alberta (Snyder) and O.D. “Cush” Holcombe, and died Friday, August 16, 2024 at his home in Groveton.

Mr. Holcombe graduated from Apple Springs High School in the Class of 1964. He served in the 1st Calvary Division of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and shared many of his war stories over the years with friends and family. Mr. Holcombe retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice where he was a truck driver, then founded Holcombe Saw Shop in Riverside. He served as Wagon Master for the Dogwood Good Sam RV Chapter and later the Dogwood Friends Group.

Mr. Holcombe enjoyed gardening and spent many evenings tending his garden when he wasn’t on the road. Traveling to see places he had never seen and taking others along for the journey was his greatest passion. He loved seeing the joy on other’s faces as he showed them the wonders of the world. He always had his trusty atlas handy and was constantly planning his next trip. He visited every state in the U.S. except for two. He saw grand sites such as the Redwood trees of California, the Rockies in Colorado, the Grand Canyon, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Canada, the beaches of Hawaii, the wilderness of Alaska, the green Isle of Ireland, along with his lifelong dream of visiting the lands down under - Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Holcombe was a man of many talents. There wasn’t a metal or wooden logic puzzle he couldn’t solve in under a few minutes and according to his daughter he could fix just about anything, or break it attempting to. He was always willing to lend a helping hand whenever he could, and willing to do anything to make someone smile.

Survivors include his loving companion of 16 years, Susie Chiles of Groveton; daughter, Amber Holcombe of Temple; son, Jubal Holcombe of Riverside; sisters, Ira Jean Wicker of Lufkin, Earlene Finn of Rusk, Sarah Annette Williams of Pollok, and Cynthia Louise Armstrong of Lufkin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Basil Holcombe; and sister, Lillie Fay Holcombe.

Pallbearers will be Edward Williams, James “J.R.” Hedden, Brandon Williams, Kolby Cotten, Kaleb Meyer, and Corey Cotten.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Harbor Hospice, 402 S. John Redditt Drive, Suite 203, Lufkin, Texas 75904 or The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.