Ford, Lela Margaret

Lela Margaret Combs (Donald)
316 Hwy 108
Ashdown, AR 71822-9028

(870) 898-3006

Since we married at Christmas during my senior year, Don and I have just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.

Being married to an Air Force man led us to various locations. The first move was to Fayetteville, North Carolina, then to Montgomery, Alabama. We lived in Montgomery for five years and our first child, Nancy, was born there. The next move was to Bossier City, Louisiana, then to Seville, Spain, for just four months due to Don's dad being diagnosed with inoperable cancer, and we were transferred back to Bossier City. From Bossier (Barksdale A.F.B.) we moved to Little Rock A.F.B. While there, Don was assigned to Seoul, Korea.

Nancy and I moved back to Ashdown for the year that Don was overseas. I worked for the attorney, Embry Pickett for that year.

When Don came home we moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where our second daughter, Nicole, was born.

Girls, one good thing about all this moving was our closets stayed clean. We didn't have time to accumulate clutter (as I do now).

While in Nashville, we requested transfer to Goose Bay, Labrador, and spent three years in COLD country. That was quite an experience for southerners, but we enjoyed it for the most part. We saw wind chill temperatures at MINUS 95 degrees , and snow like you wouldn't believe. I worked in the base education office for El Paso Community College, Colorado Springs, Co.

We were sent to Tyler, Texas on our return to the states. Don retired from the Air Force and completed his BA degree at UT-Tyler. From Tyler, we moved to Athens, Texas, and then back to Ashdown.

Our girls finished school in Ashdown and Nancy went to college in Texarkana for her BA degree. Nicole went two years in Texarkana, then transferred to UAMS where she earned her BS-Nursing degree. I did not continue college, but went to work at Bank of Ashdown, (Now FNB Ashdown) and worked there 19 and a half years. I left there and went to work as Office Manager for Smith and Mounts Realty. I retired in December, 2002 to spend time with our four grandsons. Nancy has one son, Lincoln, 16, who lives with Don and me and Nicole has three handsome boys, 13, 8 and 7.

I belong to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) in Texarkana, and I teach Young Adults Sunday School at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Ashdown. Life is good and I have been blessed abundantly.

I am looking forward to reading your bins, and to seeing everyone in October.