COOMBS: John Douglas- Peacefully on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at the age of 95. Son of the late Jack and Eunice Coombs. Predeceased by his wife Judy (Husted) Coombs. Father of Michael, Sanford and Matthew Coombs, stepsons Greg, Jeff and Steve Deming. Grandfather to Justin, Ashley, Ashton, Krystal, Carilyn, Alex, Jeffery and Adam. Doug will also be sadly missed by his dear friends Leesa Maxwell and Ron and Pat Cox. Doug was a Simcoe native and enjoyed a successful career in American radio and television broadcasting. Doug moved to Port Dover to play hockey there because the players got paid part of the gate. He scored the first goal in the New Simcoe Arena; he was very proud of this. A clever centreman, he was an all-star on the Simcoe Bantam, Midget, and Juvenile teams and, after a wartime interruption, played intermediate and senior hockey for contending southern Ontario squads. From 1947, he played with Simcoe British Knits, Port Dover Sailors (1948-1949 Ontario Intermediate B semi-finalists), Simcoe Gunners and Strathroy Rockets. He coached Simcoe Lions to the Ontario Bantam B title in 1954-1955. The closing phase of World War II saw Doug leave Simcoe High School for the service in the Royal Canadian Navy as an Able Seaman for two years, with peacetime, he worked for several Simcoe businesses before joining in the launch of radio stations CFRS Simcoe in the mid 1950s. He moved to Florida in 1957, participating in the start up of WHIY Radio, Orlando, the first country music station, and advancing to managerial positions in the broadcast field. For the next 30 years, he served as General Manager, General Sales Manager, WSWB-TV, Orlando and Marketing and Merchandising Consultant, WCPX-TV, Orlando. His vocation led to the booking and promotion of a raft of country music celebrities for performances in Florida and Kentucky. Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, June Carter, Patsy Kline, Floyd Kramer, Loretta Lynn and Minnie Pearl just to name a few. Upon his retirement in 1987 he returned to his beloved Simcoe. As a past member of the Simcoe and Strathroy Lions Clubs, he was a current member of Branch 79 of the Royal Canadian Legion, Simcoe, the Norfolk Golf and Country Club and Lynn Meadows Gold and Country Club. Doug will be missed by his many friends at the Simcoe Legion Branch 79 and at Heritage Lodge Retirement Home. As per Doug’s wishes there will be no formal visitation or services. Cremation has taken place. Interment will take place at Normandale Cemetery on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. A Legion service will take place at the cemetery prior to interment. SERENITY BURIAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 361 Main Street, Port Dover (226) 290-9093 have been entrusted with the arrangements. For those wishing to make a memorial donation in memory of Doug they are asked to consider Branch # 79 of the Royal Canadian Legion, 200 West St, Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4K8 or Simcoe Heritage Retirement Home, 182 Norfolk St S, Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 2W4. Online condolences can be left at www.serenityburialandcremation.com