Robert W. Hayes, a World War II veteran and man of great faith, died peacefully on Nov. 13, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. He was 90.

Mr. Hayes was born Dec. 31, 1920, in Reno, Nev., the first son of Dorothy Louise Ford and John Henry Quincy Adam Hayes, an artist and graphics art advertising businessman who lived in Oakland, Calif.

He graduated as the salutatorian from the Alameda High School in Oakland, Calif., in 1938, and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1943.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and served on active duty in World War II until 1946, then in the reserves until 1956, at which time he retired at the rank of major.

While on inactive duty, he met his wife, Kady Maxine Hayes, and they married on Nov. 24, 1946, in Castro Valley, Calif. They would have been married for 65 years on Thanksgiving Day.

In 1951, Mr. Hayes obtained a master’s degree in hospital administration from UC Berkeley, and began a 20-year career in the California State public health system, mostly as a hospital administrator at Pacific State Hospital for the developmentally disabled in Pomona, Calif.

In 1969, he accepted a position as the deputy commissioner of the state of New York’s mental health system. In this role, he oversaw the consent decree to close Willowbrook State School and led the movement to get residents out of centralized care facilities into group homes in the community.

In 1975, he became the deputy director of administration at Wilton Development Center for the developmentally disabled.

Upon retirement in 1993, he received a service award from then-Governor Mario Cuomo.

Mr. Hayes was a man of faith, and gave generously to the churches he attended, including the Princetown Reform Church, in Duanesburg, where he served as deacon and elder, and the New Life Fellowship Church, in Wilton, N.Y.

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In addition to his wife, Kady Hayes, he is survived by his sister, Dorothy Kain; his stepbrother, Don Ford; his sons, John, and his wife, Joan, Kim, and his wife, Avery, Bart, and his wife, Johanna, and Robert, and his wife, Darci; his daughters, Judy Abbott, and her husband, Steve, and Janet Mulvey, and her husband, Martin; his daughter-in-law, Amy Hayes; and 14 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; four step-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren.

His first-born son, Charles, died before him, as did his stepsisters, Joan and Patricia Hayes, and stepbrothers, Douglas and Bobby Hayes.

He will be buried at the Saratoga National Cemetery after a memorial service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Marilyn’s Ministry, Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 3662 Gifford Church Road, Duanesburg, NY 12056.

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Edwin R. Combs

ALTAMONT — Edwin R. Combs was an Army veteran and a hunter.

He died on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, after a long illness. He was 81.

Mr. Combs was born on June 15, 1930, in Monroe, N.Y., son of the late Ralph and Edna Combs. He served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. He retired in 1988 from the New York State Office of General Services, where he worked as the head custodian.

He was also an avid hunter.

Mr. Combs was a member of the Boyd-Hilton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and the Voorheesville American Legion.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Elizabeth E. Combs; seven stepchildren: Edward Smith; Rosemary Nicholas; Roger Smith; Richard Smith; James Smith; Geraldine Klingerman; and Becky Smith; many grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to noon at the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont. Interment will follow in Knox Cemetery.