William N. 'W.C.' Coombs Sr.

July 18, 1942 - March 18, 2018

William N. “W.C.” Coombs Sr., 75, of Rochester, formerly of Monaca Heights, died Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Good Samarian Hospice, Heritage Valley Beaver. Born July 18, 1942, in Rochester, a son of the late Charles F. and Edna Belle Gantz Coombs, he was a retired truck driver and formerly the lead singer and guitarist with the W.C. and Gold Rush Band. He was a former member of the Rochester Beaver County Lions Club and did volunteer with BCRC and with the Lighthouse for the Blind, New Brighton. He was the former operator of a therapeutic horseback riding clinic in Brighton Twp. An avid hot rod enthusiast, he attended many car cruises He is survived by his wife, Rhea F. (Munroe) Coombs; one daughter and son-in-law, Nicole L. and Thomas L. Shepard II, Rochester; two sons and a daughter-in-law, William N. Coombs Jr. , Pittsburgh and Robert C. and Lisa Coombs, Stow, Ohio; former wife and friend, Sally Schuster, New Brighton; four grandchildren of whom he adored, Tyler C. Coombs and his wife Jerimi and Racheal A. Coombs, all of Stow, Ohio; Abbey E. Shepard and Thomas L. Shepard III, Rochester; one great-granddaughter, Charlie K. Coombs, Stow, Ohio; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Debra Yanke, Ellwood City, and Mary Ellen (Hupp) and Pete Peck, Baden; three brothers and a sister-in-law, Ronald and Darlene Coombs, Center Twp.; Robert Hupp, Ambridge; and Earl Hupp, Midland; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Rodney and Keith Hupp and James Coombs. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. in the WILLIAM MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 349 Adams St., Rochester, where a service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Gregory S. Clagg, pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rochester. Memorial contributions are requested to be made to the Beaver County Special Olympics, 128 Friendship Circle, Beaver, PA 15009.