Bill Coombs, 1941-1998
Bill was born December 3, 1941, to Dorth and Virginia Coombs. He grew up on Fountain Street in the College Hill Park area. He had a younger sister, Sarah who died December 31, 2020, from cancer. Several aunts and uncles lived nearby. Bill’s daughter Christi says that her great-grandfather A.J. Coombs was Mayor of Wichita, a personal friend of Herbert Hoover and an owner of department stores in Wichita and Dallas. Engagement in public service was part of the family tradition.
Bill had three daughters: Suki/Susan (Lawrence, KS), Christi (Wichita), and Sally (Chanute) with Kay Irving, his first wife. He married a second time to Charlene Hope.
Bill graduated from Kansas University with a BA in Business 1964 and a JD in 1971. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He was also a member of ROTC Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
He continued to serve in the Marine Corps, first in training at Quantico, VA, then in Vietnam as a captain. It was after his service in the Marines that he attended law school at KU.
Bill began his law practice in Wichita from 1971-1973, then moved to Chanute, KS where he practiced from 1973-1993. He became the senior partner in 1979 and also served as a municipal judge. He retired from his law practice in 1995 and from the bench in 1996 after serving 20 years.
Bill passed away after a long bout with throat cancer on August 8, 1998, at the age of 56.
Survivors include his wife, Charlene, three daughters, one stepson, two stepdaughters, a sister, one grandchild and 11 step-grandchildren.
Many thanks for this information to Lee Ayres and to Fred Elder, who talked with members of Bill’s family to supply the above information.
Editor’s Note: Please share your memories of Bill by leaving a message in the comment box below.
