Obituary of David Vernon Coombs

David Vernon Coombs, 66, passed away December 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Born December 7, 1952 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga while his parents were serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he was the son of D’Monte Wilcox and Joan Yvonne Winegar Coombs. 

     In spite of mental challenges, David was able to accomplish many things with the help of caring people who rallied around him throughout his life.  He was amazing at putting together difficult puzzles and complicated models of ships and airplanes.  He was able to graduate from high school, and enjoyed participating in the Utah Special Olympics, winning many gold medals over the years.  He loved scouting and was a First Class scout, was very patriotic and loved the American flag, and also loved the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Bee Gees.   He remembered all his family members’ birthdays and the names of all his nephews and nieces and would ask about them all the time.  David’s family will be forever blessed because of the many things learned in associating with this great man who agreed to come to earth the way he was.  Christmas was his favorite holiday and he received the best gift ever this year when he was released from his life calling of Teacher to go Home. 

     We’d like to thank those that were caregivers to him over the years outside his immediate family: the people with Project Turn, Avalon Valley Rehab and Bristol Hospice, many of whom became like family to him and he loved as if they were, as well as childhood friends who made it a point to be kind and whom he never forgot, including Jay Steineckert and Monte Conder, and ecclesiastical leaders including Bishops Evan Brady and Wendell Terry.

     Survivors include:  his mother Joan; siblings, Carlin (Steve) Ferris; Ann (Keith) Larsen; Carol (Jim) Carter; Lincoln (Alice) Coombs; Marilyn (Jim) Howe; Debby (Ryan) Blackhurst; Diane (Billy) Lemon; and many nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his father D’Monte and a brother Wesley.

     Funeral services will be held Saturday December 29, 2018 at 1:00 pm in the Anderson & Sons Mortuary Chapel, 49 East 100 North, American Fork where a viewing will be held from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm prior to the services.  Burial in the American Fork Cemetery.