Joan Yvonne Winegar Coombs' Obituary
Joan Yvonne Winegar Coombs, 95, passed away peacefully at her home in American Fork, Utah on November 30, 2025. Born March 3, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah, she was the sixth of nine children born to William Sterling Winegar and Pearl Victoria Langford.
She attended Ensign and Longfellow grade schools in Salt Lake City, Bryant Jr. High, and graduated from East High School. She then attended the University of Utah where she was an officer in the Spurs Honor Society, Cwean service organization and Lambda Delta Sigma, as well as Vice President of the student body during her senior year, and graduated with honors in 1951 with a B.S. degree in education.
Shortly after graduation she was married to D’Monte Wilcox Coombs in the Salt Lake Temple. She was teaching first grade in the Granite School District when her husband was called to preside over the Tongan mission, where they labored for the next four years with the humble islanders, whom they learned to love. Their first two children, David and Carlin, were born in Tonga.
After their return to Utah, they moved to American Fork where they raised eight of their children (son Wesley died at birth). Joan loved teaching and taught or served in most of the auxiliaries of the Church, as well as 26 years of 4-H. She was active in the PTA and DUP (daughters of the Utah Pioneers) and spent much time and energy doing family history work. She and her husband enjoyed serving as workers in the Provo and Mt. Timpanogos Temples for many years. She helped make quilts for the humanitarian effort several years until she turned 94 when her hands and eyes no longer allowed her to participate.
Joan loved sewing and gardening and raising their big family of six girls and two boys, as well as her association with her grandchildren. She was unfailingly kind and her warmth, generosity and unwavering support for others will be remembered fondly by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, D’Monte W. Coombs, a baby, Wesley, son David Coombs, son-in-law James Carter, and grandchildren Jeromy Howe and DJ Lemon. Also preceding her were siblings Ray (and wife Marjorie) Winegar, LeMar (and wife Beverly) Winegar, Elithe (and husband Bill or Wm) Doxey, Wendell (and wife Norma) Winegar, James Winegar, Keith (and wife Virginia) Winegar, LeGrand or Buzz Winegar, Carol (and husband Keith) Ottesen, and Barry (and wife Jean) Winegar.
She is survived by her children: Carlin (Steve) Ferris, Lehi; Ann (Keith) Larsen, Willard; Carol Carter (Jim-deceased), American Fork; Lincoln (Alice) Coombs, Lehi; Marilyn (James) Howe, Melbourne Beach, Florida; Debby (Ryan) Blackhurst, Grantsville; Diane (Billy) Lemon, Provo; sisters-in-law Carolyn Winegar and Liz Child, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at the American Fork 4th Ward, 455 East 300 North in American Fork on Saturday, December 6 at 10:00 am and live streamed here: https://zoom.us/j/91274114390 with a viewing prior from 9:00 am to 9:45 am. Services are through Premier: https://premierfuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to express their sympathies are invited to contribute to the Church missionary or humanitarian funds.
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