Floyd Clinton McComas -- Private First Class 37538357

Floyd Clinton McComas, 105, Nevada, Mo., passed from this life on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He was born on July 29, 1909, to Raleigh C. and Alpha F. (Hall) McComas. Alpha died when Floyd was a small child. His father later married Barbara F. Lochner on Jan. 30, 1918, and Floyd always considered her his mother.

Floyd married Ethel Ione Dean on Nov. 27, 1935, and she preceded him in death on Aug. 8, 2004. He spent his early years as owner/manager of a furniture store in the Kansas City area and later worked for Duff & Ruff Furniture. Upon his retirement in 1974, Floyd and Ethel moved to Richards, Mo.

On Feb. 27, 1943, Floyd received his request to appear for a physical examination in Kansas City, Mo., and on Aug. 10, 1943 was inducted into the United States Army. On Sept. 10, 1943, he arrived at Camp Fannin in Waco, Texas, and in February 1944, he received shipping orders to Fort Mead Maryland Army Ground Forces Replacement Depot No. 1. In March 1944 he left for Ireland and from there was transferred to England. He was assigned to the 30th Infantry Division 119 Regimen, Company 1. On June 6, 1944, Floyd knew something major was happening. There was a constant roar of planes leaving England for the invasion of Normandy.

Floyd's regiment arrived on Omaha Beach on June 16, 1944 His company, the 3rd Battalion, was pinned down in a "pill box" with German fire all around them. They were captured and sent to a POW camp near Mossberg, Germany, Camp Stalag V11-A. On Oct. 29, 1944, his wife received a notice of Floyd's status as "missing in action." On April 29, 1945, General Patton and his forces liberated Camp Stalag VII-A. He was standing up in his Jeep, a pearl handle pistol on each hip. The first thing General Patton did was take down the Nazi flag and raise the American flag. Floyd McComas was believed to be the oldest surviving World War II POW.

Survivors include one grandchild, Tony Carpowich and his wife, Jessica, and one great-grandchild, Charlie Dean Carpowich, Lancaster, Calif.; nephews, Steve Dean and his wife, Ellen, Richards, Mo., and Don Dean and his wife, Sherri, Jasper, Mo.; niece, Marsha Forkner and her husband, Larry, Richards, Mo.; one son-in-law, D.J. Jaramillo, Lancaster, Calif; and many other extended family members. In addition to his parents and wife, Ethel, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Debbie Jaramillo; one brother; and one sister.

Memorial graveside services with military honors will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 12, at Newton Burial Park, Nevada, with Steve Dean officiating. Friends may call now and until one hour prior to the service at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Contributions may be made in his memory to Rose of Sharon Homes of Hope in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.