Sheridan Lee Combs

S. Lee Combs died at home with family by his side on July 21, 2026. He had been treated for stage 4 prostate cancer for the past three years before being diagnosed with Acute Leukemia two weeks prior to his death.

Lee was born in Akron, Ohio on September 15, 1942. He spent part of his childhood in West Virginia before his parents permanently moved their family back to Akron. He graduated from Kenmore High School in 1958 at the age of 15. While attending the University of Akron he met Judy Winter - his ride or die for the next 60 years until her death in 2019. They were married in 1959. Lee worked as a night janitor at Alsides, then as a machinist, programmer, and foreman at Akron Standard, before moving to McNeil Akron, where he was the Plant Manager.  While working full time, Lee returned to Akron U, attending night classes, and graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor's in business administration. The two-day party that followed achieved legendary status in family lore. (Kegs, too many pitchers of beer to count, and a neighbor doing wheelies on a motorcycle...enough said). 

In 1978 Lee and Judy took a leap of faith, acting on Lee’s belief that “God hates a coward”, and started their own machine shop, S.C. Manufacturing. They grew the company into one of the largest job shops in Summit County before finally selling the company in 2015.  Hundreds of employees spent time at the company, many receiving a first chance or an opportunity to advance and improve their skills. Lee was a hands-on boss, mentoring and teaching when needed and taking a step back when it wasn’t. He was a lifelong believer in the power of education and sent many employees to the NTMA Akron Chapter Akron Machining Institute (AMI) for apprenticeship training. After the closure of AMI, Lee and his daughter, Laurie Norval, started The Akron CNC Training Center to fill the gap. Over 1000 students have graduated from the school. Lee was rightly proud that countless machine shops and related businesses in NE Ohio have benefited from both the skilled employees that passed through S.C. 's doors and the students who graduated from the Training Center.

Lee loved his family more than anything. He always had his family’s back and showed his dedication to his children and grandchildren throughout their lives. Lee and Judy stuck together through the ups and downs of life and brought out the best in each other. Lee often commented that without Judy he would never have achieved the success he did. If you knew Judy, you KNEW she wasn’t going to permit that to happen. Together, they built a good life with family and friends who loved them both.  

While Lee loved to golf, he may have loved to bet on the outcome almost as much. He was not averse to playing a few mind games to gain an advantage when needed, as anyone who played with him could attest to. He loved the challenge of the game, the camaraderie during play and at the bar afterwards. He was proud of the three holes-in-one he had over his lifetime of play. Lee also loved to read, was fascinated with science and astronomy, and believed in logic and critical thinking. He enjoyed boating, first on Lake Erie in Sandusky with Judy, and later in the Portage Lakes with family and friends. He loved going out to his favorite watering holes and restaurants, especially Beau’s, to hang out with friends. As Lee said more than once “there are bartenders out there depending on me”. He was always amazed at what he and Judy had achieved, often remarking that he couldn’t believe that he lived in the home that they built. He was self-deprecating, never taking himself too seriously, and always ready with a laugh or a smile. He really was just a great guy, and we were all lucky to have known him.

Lee was preceded in death by his wife Judy (Winter) Combs, parents, Maxine (Turner) and Elwood Combs, and brother-in-law William “Bill” Herold. He is survived by daughters Sheri (Jackie) Combs, Laurie Norval, and son Phillip Combs; grandchildren Brooke Norval, Ashley Combs and Brennan Norval; sister Sheron (Ken) Paulin and sister-in-law Linda Herold; niece Lisa Callahan and nephew Scott Herold; and many beloved friends. 

A celebration of life will be held at Beau’s Grille at The DoubleTree by Hilton across from Summit Mall on Saturday, August 8th from 1:00-4:00 pm.

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