He was a native of Dallas, a longtime resident of Austin, an Army veteran, a teacher for special needs children, and a multi-year Texas Senior Chess Champion. He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Zack Coombes II, a decorated and battle field commissioned World War I, World War II, and Korean War veteran, and Bertha Coombes, an athlete, teacher, and Bridge Master, and brother to Robert Coombes, a brilliantly successful Chemical Engineer.
Survivors include his sons, John Coombes and Zach Coombes, Tonya Coombes, and Phyllis Coombes.
Graveside services will be held at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 15, 2019.