Bernard Frederick Coombes
Bernard Frederick Coombes, 82, died on November 18, 2016.
He was born December 26, 1933 in Erie, Pa., to the late Albert and Mary Tresa Pope Coombes. He graduated from Wesleyville Pennsylvania High School in 1951. Four years later, he received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Penn State University, where he was chosen for membership in Tau Beta Pi, The Engineering Honor Society. Bernie spent his entire working career of 36 years with DuPont in various manufacturing and technical assignments. Those took him to Savannah River Plant in Aiken, S.C., Edge Moor Plant in Wilmington, De., and the Chattanooga plant.
He was a man of many interests. As a cradle, practicing Catholic, he immediately joined St. Jude Church upon moving to Chattanooga in 1964. Among his ministries, he felt most privileged to have served as a Eucharistic minister from 1979 to 2004. After retirement in 1991, he became a daily communicant. For more than 25 years, Bernard published a bi-monthly family newsletter called, The Lion’s Mane. It helped keep descendants of his parents close as they spread geographically from New York to California and Wisconsin to Texas. Bernie was also a 67-year veteran of the Boy Scouts of America. During his 52 years in Chattanooga he served in almost every volunteer position including 13 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 172 at St. Jude. Throughout the 67 years he participated in the 1950, 1973, 1981, 1985 and 1989 National Jamborees and 1983 World Jamboree.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by sisters, Guyla Jean Coombes (infant), Elizabeth Coombes Degnan and Virginia Coombes, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.).
He is survived by his angelic wife, Janet Leahey Coombes (married August 27, 1955); children, Thomas Coombes, Kevin (Nancy) Coombes and Mary Pat (Garrick) Hall of Chattanooga and Daniel Coombes, Lt. Col., USMC (Ret.); grandchildren, Ryan Coombes, Drew Lewis, Austin Coombes, Luke Lewis (Army), Harrison Coombes and Gabe Hall; siblings, Marilynn (Lloyd) Krull of Erie, Pennsylvania and Arthur (Caroline) Coombes of Moraga, California; brother-in-law, Ray (Bobbie) Leahey, Col., USA (Ret.); many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive visitors at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church on Nov. 28, at 11 a.m. with Fr. Charlie Burton celebrating. Entombment will follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
A special thank you to Hospice of Chattanooga for all their care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America or your favorite charity.