Sombat Chuenchote Cox

Sombat was born and raised in Thailand. Her parents lived in a small village about 30 miles north of Bangkok. At 16, she married a Thai Army Officer who was assigned to the Prime Minister's elite protection unit. She and her husband lived in the Prime Minister's compound and travelled with him whenever he left Bangkok. In the span of over 14 years they had five children. Sombat was widowed at an early age.

In 1965, she met Millard (Mel) Cox, when a friend introduced them at a party. They became close friends and Mel would visit whenever he came to Bangkok. In 1970, shortly after Mel retired from the U.S. State Department Office of Foreign Service, they married. Mel intended to live the rest of his life in Thailand and obtained a Thai "Permanent Resident Visa". Together they purchased a 100 rai (40 acre) farm on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, near the city of Rayong. Half of the farm was fruit trees, and Mel envisioned himself as a retired "Gentleman Farmer".

The Peace Corp entered their lives and Mel was asked to train young engineers, who were brought in to build small village products.

In 1975, when U.S. Military pulled out of Vietnam. It was a shock to many, including Mel. He wondered; Would Thailand be the next Domino to fall? Suddenly, Americans, who had always been well liked, were regarded with suspicion and distrust. In 1976, after a political coup in Thailand, Mel made the decision that they should leave Thailand and move to the United States.

On July 29, 1977, with the three youngest of Sombat's five children, and 13 pieces of luggage, they said "Goodbye" to Thailand. When they arrived in San Diego, Mel's brother, who lived in La Jolla, met the family at the Airport. He drove them to a home he rented on their behalf in University City. In December 1977, they purchased their own home in University City. Eventually, the two elder of Sombat's children immigrated to the United States.

Sombat was a devoted wife to Mel and took wonderful care of him till his death in 2006. She loved gardening, baking, and Japanese Flower Arranging. In 2017, the highly respected Japanese Ohara School of Ikebana granted her the Second Degree of the Master Course.

In her final years, Sombat lived at Belmont Village, Sabre Springs, where she had wonderful and loving caregivers – including Vergie, Orlando, Zaudy, and Celia.

Sombat is survived by her daughter’s Ruja, Phisamai, Sawanee, five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. Sombat was predeceased by her daughter Chirapa, and son Lance.

A committal service for Sombat will be held Sunday, May 26, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121.