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February 8, 2012
Services
Relatives and friends may visit with the family at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ, on Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 13, 2012, at 10 AM at the funeral home.
Reverend William J. Coombs, age 63, of South Brunswick, NJ, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. His brother Bob was at his side. At the very moment of his passing, his wonderful Christian faith turned into the reality of life eternal.
He was born in Paterson and raised in Wayne. He attended Preakness Grammar School, Anthony Wayne Jr. High School and graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1966.
Upon receipt of a military draft notice, he and two friends enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1967. He was assigned to a tour of duty in Vietnam. He attained the rank of Sergeant and received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal before being honorably discharged in 1970.
Upon the completion of his military service, he attended Eastern College graduating with the Class of 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and Psychology. In 1976, he attended Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated in 1979 with a Masters of Divinity. He was ordained as an American Baptist Minister in 1980. He founded and was co-pastor of the North Hunterdon Baptist Church in Glen Gardner, NJ, with his former wife, Rev. Linda Hart.
Bill came in contact with substance abuse during his years in high school and Vietnam. As a result, he put aside his clergy duties and pursued his final ‘calling’ as a crisis worker at Center School from 1983 to 1986, a mental health worker at Fair Oaks Hospital in Summit, NJ, and finally as an Adult Substance Abuse Coordinator and Quality Management Specialist at High Focus Centers in Cranford, NJ, for the last 12 years. Bill was gifted with a special personality and ability to reach out to those in need of help with their substance abuse as it impacted their lives.
Bill is survived by his sister Jean Day, and her husband Gary, of Las Vegas, Nevada, his brother Bob Coombs, and his wife Jan, of South Brunswick, NJ, and three nephews Walter Todd Smith of Las Vegas, Nevada, Timothy Robert Coombs and Scott Tyler Coombs, both of South Brunswick, NJ.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Bill’s memory are asked to consider Embracing Hospice Care, 2101 Highway 34 South, Suite B, Wall, NJ, 07719; or staystrongbrandon.org (a South Brunswick nine-year-old boy currently battling brain cancer).
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Relatives and friends may visit with the family at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ, on Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 13, 2012, at 10 AM at the funeral home.
February 8, 2012
Services
Relatives and friends may visit with the family at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ, on Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 13, 2012, at 10 AM at the funeral home.
Reverend William J. Coombs, age 63, of South Brunswick, NJ, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. His brother Bob was at his side. At the very moment of his passing, his wonderful Christian faith turned into the reality of life eternal.
He was born in Paterson and raised in Wayne. He attended Preakness Grammar School, Anthony Wayne Jr. High School and graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1966.
Upon receipt of a military draft notice, he and two friends enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1967. He was assigned to a tour of duty in Vietnam. He attained the rank of Sergeant and received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal before being honorably discharged in 1970.
Upon the completion of his military service, he attended Eastern College graduating with the Class of 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and Psychology. In 1976, he attended Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated in 1979 with a Masters of Divinity. He was ordained as an American Baptist Minister in 1980. He founded and was co-pastor of the North Hunterdon Baptist Church in Glen Gardner, NJ, with his former wife, Rev. Linda Hart.
Bill came in contact with substance abuse during his years in high school and Vietnam. As a result, he put aside his clergy duties and pursued his final ‘calling’ as a crisis worker at Center School from 1983 to 1986, a mental health worker at Fair Oaks Hospital in Summit, NJ, and finally as an Adult Substance Abuse Coordinator and Quality Management Specialist at High Focus Centers in Cranford, NJ, for the last 12 years. Bill was gifted with a special personality and ability to reach out to those in need of help with their substance abuse as it impacted their lives.
Bill is survived by his sister Jean Day, and her husband Gary, of Las Vegas, Nevada, his brother Bob Coombs, and his wife Jan, of South Brunswick, NJ, and three nephews Walter Todd Smith of Las Vegas, Nevada, Timothy Robert Coombs and Scott Tyler Coombs, both of South Brunswick, NJ.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Bill’s memory are asked to consider Embracing Hospice Care, 2101 Highway 34 South, Suite B, Wall, NJ, 07719; or staystrongbrandon.org (a South Brunswick nine-year-old boy currently battling brain cancer).
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