Ernie Coombs, 84

Ernest “Ernie” Coombs, 84, of Benton Harbor, died Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 at his home.

Services celebrating his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Coloma with Pastor Gary Carr of the Corey Church of the Nazarene officiating. Burial will follow in North Shore Memory Gardens. The visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the Davidson Chapel. Memorials may be given to the Humane Society. Please leave message, memories or photos at www.florin.net.

Ernie’s life began on May 19, 1928 in Three Rivers. He was the son of Clarence and Bernice (York) Coombs. He attended Three Rivers Schools and graduated in 1945 from the Three Rivers High School. He was united in marriage to Angeline Fardello in 1948 on Sept. 11. Together they celebrated 64 years of marriage. Ernie retired in 1983 after 28 years in the Bell Telephone System. He started with Michigan Bell in 1955 and then transferred to Southern Bell in 1967 working as a cable repairman in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. until retirement. He was a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers and a lifetime member of the Communications Workers of America, AFL/CWA. After retirement Ernie and Angie spent the winters in Florida and the summers in Michigan as they loved both places. They enjoyed horse racing and going to different tracks. They had a great life together and traveled all over the 48 states and Canada. Ernie loved baseball and was a fan of the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves. Ernie was a special person who was kind and considerate and was a loving and caring husband.

He is survived by his wife, Angie; his sister-in-law, Josephine Nichols of Florida; his niece, Joan Leedy of Florida; his cousin, Debbie York of Three Rivers; and his several other nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James and his sister, Helen Kindig.