Robert Ogden Coombs

April 11, 1940 to April 26, 2020

Bob gave pneumonia and covid-19 a hard fight, but on April 24, 2020 he grew weary and decided it was time to, “meet God and get acquainted”. He was born in Monte Vista Hospital in Colorado on April 11, 1940 to Robert Ivan Coombs and Marie Vivian Ogden.

Bob grew up in Saguache, Colorado surrounded by a loving family. Grandma Mary Ogden and Nannie Jennie Coombs lived nearby. Aunt Irene and Uncle Jack Gray, and cousins Jaxene and Clifton were just down the block. In 1952 Bob’s brother Dean Ivan joined the family.

In 1958 Bob graduated from Saguache High School. In 1962 he graduated Cum Laude from Adams State College with a BA degree, majoring in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. He headed off to Arizona State University where he completed his MA degree in Chemical Education.

February 1965 Bob and Pauline (Polly) King were married. In October 1966 they welcomed a son, Bryan Evan.

After teaching high school for about three years, Bob joined a research team at CU Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado where he worked for the next 27 years as an assistant Biophysics researcher.

In August 1999 Bob married Elizabeth (Betty) Gillson and his family grew by four stepchildren, Arthur, Jeff, Andrew, and Tabitha. Betty had fallen in love with the man who could grow “science experiments” in the dirty dishes in his kitchen sink, iron his own dress shirts, and dance his way into her heart. Their favorite pastime was square and round dancing.

Over the years Bob enjoyed bow hunting, hiking, square dancing, reading scientific articles, crossword puzzles, and of course watching TV.

Bob is survived by wife Betty, brother Dean (Judy), son Bryan (Laura), stepchildren Arthur, Jeff (Rochelle),Andrew, and Tabitha, grandchildren Tyler, Ceaira, Gavin, Zachary, Ethan, Asher, Mira, Audrey, Emily (Skyler), and Cody (fiancé Haley), cousins Jaxene, Clifton (Suzie), and their families.

Funeral services will be held at a later date.

If you would like to honor Bob, please give a donation, in his name, to the charity of your choice.