Mrs. Harley [Vera] COMBS stamped her last letter as Redding's postmaster last Friday, marking the end of her 25 year association with the postal service and daily means of conversing fact-to-face with most community residents.

"I've really enjoyed the people and I'll miss them very much, but then there comes a time in everyone's life when you've got to slow down," Mrs. COMBS said in the quiet of the rural post office. "Retirement was here and so I took it."

Retirement is quite a change from anyone's schedule, but Mrs. COMBS is familiar with changes. For instance, the dates when the postal rates varied may be foggy in Mrs. COMBS' recollection, but she served with the postal service long enough to see the rates for post cards jump from six cents to eight, then back to sevenand up again to nine cents.

Another change Mrs. COMBS experienced along with the rest of the country was the switch of the postal services from a governmental agency to a private business.

The Redding post office was reduced from a third class office in 1968 to a part of Blockton's service. The change of the country's postal services had more than just a casual affect on Mrs. COMBS's plans.

"Actually I considered retiring much earlier but when all the talk about switching from a federal service to a business came along, I didn't choose to retire," Mrs. COMBS explained. "This post office is really dear to me and to these people and I thought by staying we wouldn't have our office totally removed.

"Looking back I think maybe we had better relations when we were the United States Post office department," she reflected. "I still think that the service under the federal government was closer to all of us workers."

Mrs. COMBS first started serving the public as a cook for the former [Posy] MILLER grocery store and cafe in Redding during the 1930's. Later, in 1951, she became clerk when the position became vacated. Her first duties required her to serve four hours per day.

"I became postmaster in 1959 by being approved by the United States Senate," Mrs. COMBS said. "Boy, was I proud when I received my certificate through the mail." The framed certificate will accompany Mrs. COMBS in retirement.

Rural carriers who have served during Mrs. COMBS' tenure have included Carl QUICK and his substitute, Ansel JONES; Earl KELLY and substitute Glen QUICK; Marshall MATHEWS and Rue MINOR and substitute Kenneth LAMBERT. Mrs. Denzil MONDAY has served as leave replacement and Christmas help for Mrs. COMBS.

Mrs. Burl MOBLEY, Benton, Iowa, resumed postmaster duties at Redding Saturday morning on a temporary basis. Mrs. MOBLEY is the postmaster at Benton.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2009