Alvin Coombes

Alvin Coombes was born on October 21, 1935, in Missoula, Montana, during the depths of the Great Depression. He was the son of Alvin Acee Coombes, born March 31, 1904, in Montana, and Ruth Frances Coombes, born December 14, 1909, in Oklahoma. His parents had married on January 14, 1925, in Jefferson City, Missouri, bringing together two young people who would establish their family in the mountain West.

Growing up in Missoula, Alvin was part of a large family that included his brothers Lon Mickey, born July 4, 1930, in Drummond, Montana; Don Leslie, born September 14, 1931, also in Drummond; Emmett Lee, born November 27, 1933, in Deer Lodge, Montana; and Jay Albert. The geographic spread of his siblings' births across western Montana—from Drummond to Deer Lodge to Missoula—reflected the mobility of working families during the Depression era, likely following employment opportunities in the region's mining and timber industries.

As a young man in Montana's rugged landscape, Alvin developed a deep love for the outdoors that would define much of his character. He "enjoyed the outdoor life, rock hounding, hunting, and fishing," pursuits he would later share with his own children and grandchildren. Montana's abundant natural resources provided endless opportunities for these activities, with the state offering approximately eighty-six documented rockhounding sites and vast wilderness areas for hunting and fishing. As a young man, he "would often be seen with his pistol by his side," reflecting both the frontier heritage of Montana and his comfort with firearms as tools of outdoor recreation.

Alvin's service to his country came through the United States Army, where he served with distinction in the 11th Airborne Division and later in the U.S. Army Reserve. The 11th Airborne Division, known as the "Arctic Angels," was first activated on February 25, 1943, at Camp Mackall in North Carolina. The division saw significant action in the Pacific Theater during World War II, including combat operations in the Philippines, though Alvin's service likely occurred during the post-war period or Korean War era, given his birth year of 1935. His military service instilled in him a deep patriotism—"He loved his country"—and qualified him for the military funeral honors he would receive upon his death nearly seventy years later.

On January 14, 1956, Alvin married the love of his life, Theda Jewell Snowden, in what would become a union lasting nearly sixty years. Theda was born on January 24, 1940, in St. Charles, Virginia, to Carl Bascom Snowden and Edith Elizabeth (Harless) Snowden. Their marriage brought together a Montana-born veteran with a woman from the Virginia mountains, creating a partnership that would weather the changing decades of the mid-to-late twentieth century. Theda shared Alvin's love of the outdoors and "enjoyed gardening, cooking, sewing, and outdoor activities".

The couple was blessed with six children who would carry on the family legacy: Roger W. Coombes (married to Krista), Alvin C. Coombes (married to Becky), Brenda K. Rang (married to Robert), Virginia R. Elliott (married to Roger), Theda M. McDermott (married to William), and John W. Coombes (married to Angela). Alvin took an active role in their upbringing, particularly in sharing his outdoor interests. He regularly took his children and later his grandchildren rock hounding, hunting, and fishing, ensuring that the values and skills he had learned in Montana's wilderness were passed down to the next generation.

Alvin's working life exemplified the economic versatility required of working-class men in post-war Montana. He was "a hardworking man supporting his family many ways," with occupations that included working with concrete, picking fruit, driving truck, and most significantly, working at the Louisiana-Pacific mill in Missoula. The LP mill was a major employer in the region, operating a particleboard manufacturing facility that employed more than 200 people. Alvin's long tenure at the mill, from which he retired in 1996, provided the stable foundation that allowed him to support his large family while maintaining his commitment to being a provider—"He felt it was his responsibility to put food on the table".

Louisiana-Pacific's Missoula operation was part of the region's long history of timber and wood products manufacturing. The company eventually sold the mill in February 2003 to Roseburg Forest Products, seven years after Alvin's retirement. His retirement at age sixty reflected both the physical demands of industrial work and the pension benefits available to long-term employees during an era when such security was more common in American manufacturing.

Beyond work and family, Alvin possessed a distinctive personality that left lasting impressions on those who knew him. A family friend characterized him as "the genuine article. Nothing but the real man he truly was," suggesting a reputation for authenticity and straightforwardness that was valued in Montana's culture. He had "a unique sense of humor and readily shared his opinions and ideas," and "loved to talk about what he thought was important at the time no matter how many times he had said it before". These traits painted the picture of a man comfortable in his own skin, willing to engage with others, and unafraid to express his views.

One particular highlight in Alvin's life was when he met the Blue Angel Pilots when they performed in the Flathead Valley. The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's official flight demonstration squadron established in 1946, represented the pinnacle of military aviation excellence. This encounter clearly left a deep impression on Alvin, connecting his military service and love of country with the spectacular aerial demonstrations that showcase American naval aviation to the public.

Family tragedy touched the Coombes household with the death of grandson Ronald Dodge, who preceded Alvin in death. The loss of a grandchild represents one of life's most difficult experiences, yet Alvin and Theda continued to find joy in their expanding family of "many grandchildren and great grandchildren". The family's growth across generations reflected the success of Alvin and Theda's union and their commitment to maintaining close family bonds.

The final chapter of Alvin's life was marked by significant change and profound loss. He and Theda relocated from their longtime Montana home to Puyallup, Washington, where they would spend their final years. This move, likely motivated by proximity to family members or healthcare considerations, represented a major transition for a man who had spent nearly eight decades in Montana.

Theda's death on April 1, 2015, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complications at their home in Puyallup marked the end of their fifty-nine-year marriage. The loss of his life partner after nearly six decades together left Alvin bereft. Just five weeks later, on May 10, 2015, Alvin himself passed away at age seventy-nine, also in Puyallup. The proximity of their deaths suggests the profound bond they shared and the difficulty of continuing life without a partner of so many decades.

Despite living his final years in Washington, Alvin's family chose to honor his Montana roots in death. His funeral arrangements brought him home to Missoula, where a viewing was held on Monday, May 18, 2015, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at Garden City Funeral Home, located at 1705 West Broadway. This was followed by graveside services with military honors at 2:30 pm at the Missoula City Cemetery, established in 1884 and one of the valley's oldest continuously operating cemeteries.

The military funeral honors—including the playing of "Taps" and presentation of the burial flag—provided fitting recognition for Alvin's service in the 11th Airborne Division and Army Reserve. His burial in the Missoula City Cemetery, with its rich history dating back to the city's founding era, represented a final homecoming to the community that had shaped so much of his identity and values.

Alvin Coombes' life spanned eight decades of American history, from the Great Depression through the early twenty-first century. His story reflects the experiences of countless working-class Americans who served their country, raised families, worked hard to provide for those they loved, and found meaning in the simple pleasures of outdoor recreation and community connection. His legacy lives on through his surviving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and in the memories of those who knew him as "the genuine article"—a man who lived authentically and without pretense, embodying the values of service, family, and honest work that defined his Montana upbringing.