William F. Coombs, 82, of Punta Gorda, FL died January 4, 2007. He was born April 30, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY and moved the Punta Gorda area in 1982 after retiring from Bausch & Lomb in Rochester, NY where he was Vice President and Technical Director of the Soflens Division and played a principal part in the introduction of soft contact lenses. He received a Masters Degree in Science and Economics from M.I.T. and in Applied Physics from the University of Rochester. In Punta Gorda, he served on the Boards of the Peace River Audubon Society, the Isles Yacht Club where he was Commodore in 1991, and CHEC the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Coombs; two daughters, Susan Felthousen of Schenectady, New York and Karen Coombs of Houston, Texas and three grandsons, Mathew Felthousen, John Mugno and Peter Mugno.
The family has requested memorial donations to be made to the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, 10941 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.
Kays-Ponger Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda Chapel is in charge of local arrangements.
