William B. Coombs

1935 - 2018

Sergeant Major William B. Coombs, U.S. Army (Ret.), died Thursday, October 11, 2018 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital following a period of declining health. He was 83. "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more." | Wm. Shakespeare No more eloquent testimony can be found to describe the valor of Waltham's Bill Coombs who deployed to Vietnam six times during his thirty year career with the United States Army. Bill's selfless devotion to duty, honor and courage define the word hero . . . he was the real deal. After graduating from high school he joined the United States Army and rose to the rare enlisted rank of Sergeant Major. Fourteen of his years were spent with Army Special Forces units and the rest with logistics units. In addition to weapons and reconnaissance training he became a master parachutist. Two Bronze Stars were among the many decorations he earned and at retirement was awarded the Legion of Merit. Bill was a graduate of Hawaii Pacific University. He was a member of the Special Forces Association, the Elks, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Berlin Military Veterans Association, the Combat Infantryman's Association, the Moose, the Sergeants Major Association and the Enlisted Association. Bill was a son of the late James A. and Mary C. (Ford) Coombs and while not serving with the military had been a lifelong Waltham resident. He leaves his brother, James Coombs and his wife, Philomena (Heaney), of Dracut; his nephew and nieces, William Coombs of Englewood, New Jersey, Lisa (Coombs) Greene and her husband, Roger El-Hachem, of Farmington, Connecticut and Karen (Coombs) Weeks and her husband, John, of Billerica and his grand-nieces, Olivia Ketchian-Coombs, Camilla El-Hachem, Ava El-Hachem, Jessica Weeks and Jillian Weeks. Family and friends will honor and remember Bill's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, October 17th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thurs- day morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne at 1 p.m.