Eugene Coombs

Eugene E. Coombs, 83, of The Live Oaks in Fredericksburg, TX, passed away May 17th at HCM in Fredericksburg. Gene was born on August 21st, 1932 in Portland, ME to Edith Bolton and Russell Coombs (both deceased).\r\n\r\nGene graduated from Deering High School in 1950 and almost immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Korea. After that tour, Gene decided to go into the Air Force and consequently spent tours in Japan, Spain and the Canal Zone. Subsequent to his military service, he spent the next 10 years employed by Air Force Audit Agency at Kelly AFB, where he spent the next 17 years before retiring from Civil Service In January, 1998. Gene received a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Franklin University in Columbus, OH. \r\n\r\nWhile stationed at Kincheloe AFB in upper Michigan, Gene married the former Lauretta Pezet of the Soo in February of 1966 and shortly thereafter transferred to Japan, where their first two sons were born. The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Gene and Lauretta had five children: James E., Kenneth E., Nicole (Basse), Kevin L. (Amy), and Christopher T. (Stacy). There are also 10 grandchildren surviving: Natalie Marra, Kaitlynn Coombs, Andrew Coombs, Alexis and Brayden Coombs, Kylie, Brooke and Alexandria Coombs and Blaine and Kenzlyn Basse.\r\n\r\nGene was a member of Notre Dame Catholic Church in Kerrville. A service will be held at Grimes Funeral Chapels on Saturday, May 21st at 2:00 PM with Deacon Sonny Kaufhold officiating with a rosary. The cremains will be interred at a later date in the Riverside Catholic Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. \r\n\r\nThe family would like to express their appreciation to the doctors and nursing staff at HCM, especially Dr. Andreassian, Dr. Cantu and Dr. Frias who made Gene's last hours as comfortable as possible. Also, two special nurses in ICU (Amy and Melanie) and a few others whose names we apologize for not remembering. EVERYONE at HCM were Angels in disguise……. Thank you all for the TLC.