COOMBS – Minnie Pearl
Oct 17th 1912 - June 1st, 2008
Pearl passed away on June 1st. 2008 at the Rimbey Long Term Care Centre at the age of 95 years. Minnie Pearl Simmons was born October 17th 1912 in the Saskatchewan
district of Illerbrun. It was in Saskatchewan she met and married George Matthew Anthony Coombs (Nov. 1931) and where her two sons, Walter and Ralph were born. Like so many of their contemporaries who shared the values of honest work, self reliance, independence and good neighborliness, Pearl and George worked at whatever was available in order to make a life for themselves and a loving and secure place for their children. In their early life together, they homesteaded, worked on a ranch in the Hardisty area, in a service station in Sylvan Lake, in the shipbuilding industry in Vancouver during the Second World War and following the War in the gas hauling business in Calgary.
It was through their work in Calgary that enough was saved to finance a return to their first love, mixed farming. In 1949 Pearl and George purchased a farm in the Bingley,
Alberta district where they spent many hard but satisfying years. On retirement, they moved to Rimbey, Alberta where they experienced the joy of having fun, spending time with new and old friends and contributing to the community. Pearl became very active in the Rimbey Drop In Centre, serving for many years on the Executive and as President. The Drop In Centre became the central part of her community service as she worked tirelessly to make it a place of comfort, friendship and support for the seniors of the Rimbey area. Pearl admired the spirit of the people in Rimbey and their friendship to both she and George was highly treasured.
Her husband George predeceased Pearl in 1988. With her passing Pearl leaves to mourn her, two sons Walter and Ralph Coombs, their wives Myrna and Bea, her sister Vera Reid of Calgary, nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren and her many friends and supporters of the Rimbey area. She leaves us all a legacy of independence, responsibility, respect for all and a zest for life and contribution to community.
Memorial Services will be held from the Rimbey United Church on Saturday June 14, 2008 at 2:00 PM with Reverend Deborah Laing officiating.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Rimbey Seniors Drop In Centre, PO Box 1352 Rimbey AB. T0C2J0.
Wilson’s Funeral Chapel & Crematorium
serving Central Alberta with locations in Rimbey and Lacombe in charge of the arrangements.
Phone: (403) 843-3388
or (403) 782-3366.
“ A Caring Family, Caring For Families “