D'Monte Wilcox Coombs, age 93, died on Dec 4, 2010 of cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife and children, a fitting tribute to a man who lived a life of honor, hard work, and devotion to his wife, family and church.
He was born Oct. 31, 1917 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, to Mark Vernon and LaVera Wilcox Coombs. When he was 3 years old, his parents were called to preside over the Tongan Mission, one of several South Sea missions his own family and relatives served in through the years.
On their return, he attended schools in Ogden, Salt Lake, and Logan, where he graduated from U.S.A.C. in the school of engineering with a B.S. degree.
During World War II he received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Later becoming Captain, and was assigned to Fort Flagler, WA, where he served 5 years during the war. He had been shipped out to the Philippines just as the atomic bomb was dropped, which terminated the war. He was then sent to Japan with the army of occupation there.
On return home, he was sent east where he served an honorable mission in the New England mission. On returning home he attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for a few years and then worked as an engineer with the Salt Lake City Engineering Dept, and later with Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.
During this time, he met and married Joan Wagner in the Salt Lake Temple. Within a few weeks they were sent to preside over the Tongan mission where they labored with and learned to love the faithful Tongan saints. Their first two children were born in Tonga.
Following their release, they moved to American Fork, where they had seven more children, and D'Monte worked in the office as a project engineer with Geneva steel Co. in Orem. He taught engineering at B.Y.U. for 3 years.
He was then called by the Church to serve in various capacities in the Church Building Dept. in Salt Lake City, the Presiding Bishopric Dept., and was then manager of the Translation Dept for the Church, which required extensive traveling through much of the world. For several years he also directed the L.D.S. Church area conference efforts where he traveled with President Kimball's group.
While teaching engineering at BYU for a few years and while working in the Church Building Dept, he served as a member of the Pacific Board of Education, which administered the Church schools in the Pacific, and the building and staffing of the Church Cultural Center at La'ie, Hawaii.
As their family matured, D'Monte and Joan both served for 20 years as workers in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos Temples. He also served for many years as Gospel doctrine teacher. D'Monte was then called as Bishop of the Third Ward in American Fork, and then as a counselor in the West Stake Presidency, where he served for 13 years. Throughout his life he set an example of integrity, responsibility, and devotion to his wife and family, and to the Church.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Joan; eight living children (son Wesley died at birth): David Coombs, of Salt Lake City, Carlin (Steve) Ferris, of Lehi, Ann (Keith) Larsen, of Willard, Carol (Rob) Watts, of Farmington, Lincoln W. Coombs, (Alice), of Lehi, Marilyn (Jim) Howe, of Melbourne Beach, FL, Deborah (Ryan) Blackhurst, of Grantsville, and Diane (Billy) Lemon, of Anchorage, AK; 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Vernetta Weston (Arlo), of NM.
He is preceded in death by a brother, Melburn (Margaret) Coombs, and his parents, Mark Vernon and LaVera Wilcox Coombs.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the 4th Ward Chapel, 3rd North and 4th East in American Fork with viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Friends and family may also call at the Anderson and Sons Mortuary Thurs. Dec. 9 from 6-8 p.m.
Interment will be at the American Fork Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Church Missionary or Humanitarian Funds.
He was born Oct. 31, 1917 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, to Mark Vernon and LaVera Wilcox Coombs. When he was 3 years old, his parents were called to preside over the Tongan Mission, one of several South Sea missions his own family and relatives served in through the years.
On their return, he attended schools in Ogden, Salt Lake, and Logan, where he graduated from U.S.A.C. in the school of engineering with a B.S. degree.
During World War II he received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Later becoming Captain, and was assigned to Fort Flagler, WA, where he served 5 years during the war. He had been shipped out to the Philippines just as the atomic bomb was dropped, which terminated the war. He was then sent to Japan with the army of occupation there.
On return home, he was sent east where he served an honorable mission in the New England mission. On returning home he attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for a few years and then worked as an engineer with the Salt Lake City Engineering Dept, and later with Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.
During this time, he met and married Joan Wagner in the Salt Lake Temple. Within a few weeks they were sent to preside over the Tongan mission where they labored with and learned to love the faithful Tongan saints. Their first two children were born in Tonga.
Following their release, they moved to American Fork, where they had seven more children, and D'Monte worked in the office as a project engineer with Geneva steel Co. in Orem. He taught engineering at B.Y.U. for 3 years.
He was then called by the Church to serve in various capacities in the Church Building Dept. in Salt Lake City, the Presiding Bishopric Dept., and was then manager of the Translation Dept for the Church, which required extensive traveling through much of the world. For several years he also directed the L.D.S. Church area conference efforts where he traveled with President Kimball's group.
While teaching engineering at BYU for a few years and while working in the Church Building Dept, he served as a member of the Pacific Board of Education, which administered the Church schools in the Pacific, and the building and staffing of the Church Cultural Center at La'ie, Hawaii.
As their family matured, D'Monte and Joan both served for 20 years as workers in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos Temples. He also served for many years as Gospel doctrine teacher. D'Monte was then called as Bishop of the Third Ward in American Fork, and then as a counselor in the West Stake Presidency, where he served for 13 years. Throughout his life he set an example of integrity, responsibility, and devotion to his wife and family, and to the Church.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Joan; eight living children (son Wesley died at birth): David Coombs, of Salt Lake City, Carlin (Steve) Ferris, of Lehi, Ann (Keith) Larsen, of Willard, Carol (Rob) Watts, of Farmington, Lincoln W. Coombs, (Alice), of Lehi, Marilyn (Jim) Howe, of Melbourne Beach, FL, Deborah (Ryan) Blackhurst, of Grantsville, and Diane (Billy) Lemon, of Anchorage, AK; 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Vernetta Weston (Arlo), of NM.
He is preceded in death by a brother, Melburn (Margaret) Coombs, and his parents, Mark Vernon and LaVera Wilcox Coombs.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the 4th Ward Chapel, 3rd North and 4th East in American Fork with viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Friends and family may also call at the Anderson and Sons Mortuary Thurs. Dec. 9 from 6-8 p.m.
Interment will be at the American Fork Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Church Missionary or Humanitarian Funds.
D'Monte Wilcox Coombs, age 93, died on Dec 4, 2010 of cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife and children, a fitting tribute to a man who lived a life of honor, hard work, and devotion to his wife, family and church.
He was born Oct. 31, 1917 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, to Mark Vernon and LaVera Wilcox Coombs. When he was 3 years old, his parents were called to preside over the Tongan Mission, one of several South Sea missions his own family and relatives served in through the years.
On their return, he attended schools in Ogden, Salt Lake, and Logan, where he graduated from U.S.A.C. in the school of engineering with a B.S. degree.
During World War II he received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Later becoming Captain, and was assigned to Fort Flagler, WA, where he served 5 years during the war. He had been shipped out to the Philippines just as the atomic bomb was dropped, which terminated the war. He was then sent to Japan with the army of occupation there.
On return home, he was sent east where he served an honorable mission in the New England mission. On returning home he attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for a few years and then worked as an engineer with the Salt Lake City Engineering Dept, and later with Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.
During this time, he met and married Joan Wagner in the Salt Lake Temple. Within a few weeks they were sent to preside over the Tongan mission where they labored with and learned to love the faithful Tongan saints. Their first two children were born in Tonga.
Following their release, they moved to American Fork, where they had seven more children, and D'Monte worked in the office as a project engineer with Geneva steel Co. in Orem. He taught engineering at B.Y.U. for 3 years.
He was then called by the Church to serve in various capacities in the Church Building Dept. in Salt Lake City, the Presiding Bishopric Dept., and was then manager of the Translation Dept for the Church, which required extensive traveling through much of the world. For several years he also directed the L.D.S. Church area conference efforts where he traveled with President Kimball's group.
While teaching engineering at BYU for a few years and while working in the Church Building Dept, he served as a member of the Pacific Board of Education, which administered the Church schools in the Pacific, and the building and staffing of the Church Cultural Center at La'ie, Hawaii.
As their family matured, D'Monte and Joan both served for 20 years as workers in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos Temples. He also served for many years as Gospel doctrine teacher. D'Monte was then called as Bishop of the Third Ward in American Fork, and then as a counselor in the West Stake Presidency, where he served for 13 years. Throughout his life he set an example of integrity, responsibility, and devotion to his wife and family, and to the Church.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Joan; eight living children (son Wesley died at birth): David Coombs, of Salt Lake City, Carlin (Steve) Ferris, of Lehi, Ann (Keith) Larsen, of Willard, Carol (Rob) Watts, of Farmington, Lincoln W. Coombs, (Alice), of Lehi, Marilyn (Jim) Howe, of Melbourne Beach, FL, Deborah (Ryan) Blackhurst, of Grantsville, and Diane (Billy) Lemon, of Anchorage, AK; 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Vernetta Weston (Arlo), of NM.
He is preceded in death by a brother, Melburn (Margaret) Coombs, and his parents, Mark Vernon and LaVera Wilcox Coombs.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the 4th Ward Chapel, 3rd North and 4th East in American Fork with viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Friends and family may also call at the Anderson and Sons Mortuary Thurs. Dec. 9 from 6-8 p.m.
Interment will be at the American Fork Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Church Missionary or Humanitarian Funds.
He was born Oct. 31, 1917 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, to Mark Vernon and LaVera Wilcox Coombs. When he was 3 years old, his parents were called to preside over the Tongan Mission, one of several South Sea missions his own family and relatives served in through the years.
On their return, he attended schools in Ogden, Salt Lake, and Logan, where he graduated from U.S.A.C. in the school of engineering with a B.S. degree.
During World War II he received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Later becoming Captain, and was assigned to Fort Flagler, WA, where he served 5 years during the war. He had been shipped out to the Philippines just as the atomic bomb was dropped, which terminated the war. He was then sent to Japan with the army of occupation there.
On return home, he was sent east where he served an honorable mission in the New England mission. On returning home he attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for a few years and then worked as an engineer with the Salt Lake City Engineering Dept, and later with Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.
During this time, he met and married Joan Wagner in the Salt Lake Temple. Within a few weeks they were sent to preside over the Tongan mission where they labored with and learned to love the faithful Tongan saints. Their first two children were born in Tonga.
Following their release, they moved to American Fork, where they had seven more children, and D'Monte worked in the office as a project engineer with Geneva steel Co. in Orem. He taught engineering at B.Y.U. for 3 years.
He was then called by the Church to serve in various capacities in the Church Building Dept. in Salt Lake City, the Presiding Bishopric Dept., and was then manager of the Translation Dept for the Church, which required extensive traveling through much of the world. For several years he also directed the L.D.S. Church area conference efforts where he traveled with President Kimball's group.
While teaching engineering at BYU for a few years and while working in the Church Building Dept, he served as a member of the Pacific Board of Education, which administered the Church schools in the Pacific, and the building and staffing of the Church Cultural Center at La'ie, Hawaii.
As their family matured, D'Monte and Joan both served for 20 years as workers in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos Temples. He also served for many years as Gospel doctrine teacher. D'Monte was then called as Bishop of the Third Ward in American Fork, and then as a counselor in the West Stake Presidency, where he served for 13 years. Throughout his life he set an example of integrity, responsibility, and devotion to his wife and family, and to the Church.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Joan; eight living children (son Wesley died at birth): David Coombs, of Salt Lake City, Carlin (Steve) Ferris, of Lehi, Ann (Keith) Larsen, of Willard, Carol (Rob) Watts, of Farmington, Lincoln W. Coombs, (Alice), of Lehi, Marilyn (Jim) Howe, of Melbourne Beach, FL, Deborah (Ryan) Blackhurst, of Grantsville, and Diane (Billy) Lemon, of Anchorage, AK; 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Vernetta Weston (Arlo), of NM.
He is preceded in death by a brother, Melburn (Margaret) Coombs, and his parents, Mark Vernon and LaVera Wilcox Coombs.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the 4th Ward Chapel, 3rd North and 4th East in American Fork with viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Friends and family may also call at the Anderson and Sons Mortuary Thurs. Dec. 9 from 6-8 p.m.
Interment will be at the American Fork Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Church Missionary or Humanitarian Funds.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
