Eleanor Surber McCombe

Eleanor Surber McCombe, until recently of Cincinnati, OH, passed from this earth on December 13, 2025. She was 92 and died peacefully in her bed surrounded by family at her new home in West Hartford, Connecticut.


Born in Elgin Illinois (outside of Chicago), “Surb” grew up on a small farm, trying to ride cows (they don’t like it), fishing with her brothers and her father Velmon, attending girl scout camp, and being involved in way too many school activities - anything to get out of helping her mom Olive in the house with the “women’s work”. She hated plucking chickens and cleaning canning jars, so she vowed to do neither when she left home. She loved high school, and Surb kept in touch with many classmates over the years and attended all of the Elgin High School class of ’51 reunions.

Eleanor saw education as the key to a successful future, and she was first in her family to graduate from college (University of Illinois class of ’55), where she was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority. She considered pursuing an advanced degree (she thought she would be a good surgeon), but was discouraged from “taking a man’s place”. Eleanor was a woman of the times, so she invested in marriage - with a handsome Air Force lieutenant and young engineer, Sam Davison.



She would marry Sam right after school to become a corporate wife (Sam worked for General Electric, a job which brought them to Cincinnati in 1957), a homemaker, and mother of three children. Like anything she did, she took her roles seriously, entertaining extensively, volunteering on committees, creatively decorating her home on a budget, sewing Halloween costumes, attending school functions, and knitting countless sweaters while sitting in doctor’s waiting rooms. Eleanor and Sam had a lot of friends, and weekends were often spent giving or attending parties. Vacations often involved water skiing with the family boat. Eleanor took special care to raise her three children to be industrious, honest, and kind  - and she was proud of leaving the world that legacy.


In the mid-seventies, women were seeing that independence was possible, and Eleanor decided to get a divorce and make it on her own (think Mary Tyler Moore throwing up her hat!). She put her unflagging energy to work, passing insurance exams to become an agent with an office in downtown Cincinnati. During that time, a casual downtown lunch date with an Indian Hill neighbor, (a good-natured and good-lookin’ Canadian!) blossomed into romance, and in 1982 she became Mrs. Robert J.J. McCombe. Eleanor and Bob were a true dynamic duo for the next 24 years. They loved playing golf, hanging out with friends, and traveling - and they often combined those three things, taking many long car trips, staying with friends and bringing their clubs to play on courses all over the U.S. and Canada. Eleanor often said that Bob was the most wonderful man on the planet, and that she felt so lucky that fate brought them together. She had missed him every day since his passing in 2006 and hoped that they would be reunited after her death.

Eleanor loved sports and being active. She was a cheerleader and competitive speed skater in her younger years. In her middle years she played a lot of tennis and enjoyed cross-country and downhill skiing, continuing skiing into her late 80’s. Golf became her passion after marrying Bob, and she could be found at Kenwood Country Country Club all season long teeing up and competing in many tournaments. After giving up the big links in her late 80’s, she still was always up for a game of putt-putt with the grandkids. In her later years, neighbors would see her walking around with her hiking poles in all kinds of weather to go to the Twin Lakes pool for a workout, or to Aglamesis Ice Cream Parlor.  She rarely refused an invitation to walk, even after turning 90. Her mantra was “keep moving!”, and she did!


Indoors, Eleanor fed her competitive nature and social spirit by playing bridge at the Cincinnati Women’s Club. She enjoyed playing the piano and leaned into the discipline it takes to learn a new piece - especially if it was a duet with her best friend Barb. She was an avid reader, with a stack of the latest bestsellers by the recliner. She was always ready to play board games or cards with her kids or grandchildren, or to do a jigsaw puzzle.

Eleanor was a member of Armstrong Chapel in Indian Hill, but her code of conduct could be found in her worn-out girl scout manual: Be a nice person; Work hard; Take responsibility for your actions; Do your best; Think of others; Give back; and, Leave this place better than you found it. She was a volunteer all her life at many Cincinnati organizations, most notably for the Special Olympics, the Cincinnati Symphony, and the PEO Sisterhood, which provides scholarships to women pursuing higher education.

Living her life to the full, Eleanor approached every day thinking “What shall I see and do next?” She ventured to bungee-jump, go in a glider, drive a segway scooter, and skydive. She visited 57 countries, all seven continents, and nearly every U.S. state. She embraced her world travels and her everyday life with a curious mind, taking videos at every turn, talking to strangers easily, and reading all the informational kiosks and brochures of every place she visited. She had an uncanny ability to steer conversation away from herself so that she could learn about YOU. She always said “I don’t need to talk about myself - I already know about me!”

After breaking her hip in July, then learning that cancer was advancing, Eleanor conceded that she ought to be near family.  She approached her move to Connecticut like everything in her life: Here is a brand new adventure! In West Hartford, she lived in an apartment on her own, but with support from her daughter Lori, just 2 minutes away. She eschewed further medical interventions other than for comfort, and spent her final 2 months enjoying movies, museums, an art class, family visits, walks and wheelchair rolls at the beach and at nearby Elizabeth Park. In the very last week of her life, Eleanor serenaded her daughter on the piano and decorated her Christmas tree with ornaments she had collected from around the world. In looking at the tree lights glowing, she proclaimed “This world is so beautiful. I am so lucky to have had such a GREAT LIFE”. Eleanor left this life the way she lived it: decidedly content, cheerful, considerate of others, and grateful. 

Eleanor Surber McCombe leaves behind so many friends and family that will miss her dearly:

Her children Scott Davison (John Glotfelty), Lynn Davison (Mary Burkhardt), Lori Davison (Luke Hodge), and Bob’s children Jim McCombe (Sally Hitchcock) and Karen Evans (Lyle).
 Grandchildren Julia Evans (Brian Berry), Chad Evans, Brent Burkhardt (Katherine), Lyndsey Davison-Gwynn (Edward), Mark and Alana Davison, and Madeline and Jamie Hodge. Great-grandchildren Miriam and Evan Berry, and Emrys and Freyja Burkhardt. Many nieces and nephews, including Riley Surber (Tom Moyer)



A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, February 14, 2026 (Valentine’s Day!) in Cincinnati. Friends wishing to join this celebration lunch should contact Ms.Lori.Davison@gmail.com for details and invitation.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Eleanor’s name can be made to an organization close to her heart:

•PEO Sisterhood (Philanthropic Educational Organization)

make check payable to “Ohio Scholarships” and mail to:
PEO treasurer Katie Leary

9789 Winnebago Trail

Cincinnati, OH 45215

•Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra:https://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/support-us/quick-donate/