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LaWanda Nell McCombs of San Antonio passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 2, 2023. LaWanda was born on March 5, 1937, in Dickens, Texas, just north of her hometown of Spur, and made her opinions known every day for the next 85 years. The youngest of four, La Wanda was a born instigator, collaborator, and confidante. She was known for her humor, her generosity of spirit, and her ability to love and accept anyone, even a Rockets fan. LaWanda left Spur for Corpus Christi with her family, where she finished high school, and then left for the Alamo City where she enrolled in San Antonio Junior College and began working for a local radio station. In November of 1973, La Wanda joined the brand-new Spurs organization as a ticket seller, and became ticket manager within a year. This role perfectly suited her gift of working with people, and introduced her to almost everyone in San Antonio at one point or another during her long career. Her love for our city’s team was unwavering, and her knowledge of the game and its players bordered on encyclopedic. Until the last day of her life she could rattle off Spurs shooting guards from the mid-90’s. The only thing that LaWanda loved more than the Spurs and Elvis Presley was her family. She relished her role as Aunt and Great Aunt, and alternated between spoiling the children in her life and teaching them phrases that they would inevitably repeat at inappropriate times. They all loved their “Aunt Donda,” a nickname given by eldest nephew Michael when unable to pronounce LaWanda. LaWanda is preceded in death by her parents, Willie Nathan McCombs and Gladys Dempsey McCombs; and by her siblings Billy Joe “Red” McCombs (Charline), Mildred Penton, and Albert Gene McCombs (Mary). She is survived by her nieces Lynda McCombs, Marsha Shields (John H.), Connie McNab (Sandy), and Paula Jean McCombs; and her nephews Michael Porche (Nancy) and Terrell McCombs (Cindy); her grandnieces and grandnephews Carson Rubey IV (Cristina), Chloé Shands (Matt), Anna Turner (Chris), Joe Shields (Andrea), Charles McNab, Sita McNab, Ian McNab (Alicia), Easton McNab (Claire), Jennifer Odom, Amy Cockreham (Brennham), and her namesake, LaWanda Jane Porche (Molly). The memorial service for LaWanda McCombs will be held at Mission Park North, 3401 Cherry Ridge, at 11:00 AM on Friday, March 10, 2023. Donations in her memory may be made to Spurs Give, One AT&T Center Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219.

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LaWanda Nell McCombs

March 5, 1937 - March 2, 2023