BATH — Surrounded by close family, Geraldine (Gerry) Nickerson Coombs of Bath peacefully passed on to another world on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at Hill House. She was born in Bath on April 11, 1924, the daughter of Sanford Blackett Nickerson and Fannie (Oliver) Nickerson.

She was a 1942 graduate of Morse High School, then Bates College in Lewiston, and Perkins Institution for the Blind Teacher Training Program in Watertown, MA. This latter experience led to several years of work with blind children in Maine. In 1947, she married John Warren Coombs of Bath. They were married for 58 years prior to his passing in 2005.

During the 1950’s and 60’s, Mrs. Coombs served as a Girl Scout leader and Kennebec Girl Scout Council representative.

For over 75 years she was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Bath, having served as a Church School Superintendent, Chairperson of Education, Trustee, Lay Leader, and Delegate to the United Methodist Annual Conference. As a member of the Outreach Committee, Mrs. Coombs represented Methodists on the Bath Area Food Bank Board for many years, and was involved in several Habitat For Humanity and home building projects. From 1967 to 1973, the churches of Bath supported and operated the Bridge Coffee House for teenagers and young adults. Mrs. Coombs was a founding member of the Steering Committee, Program Director, and Chairperson of the Steering Committee.

She had been a charter member of the Literacy Volunteers of Bath, actively serving for 30 years in several capacities, as treasurer, librarian and ESL tutor. Returning to teaching in the early 1970’s, Mrs. Coombs taught remedial reading and special education students in the Bath and Brunswick School systems for 11 years, retiring in 1985. During this period, she received her Master of Science in Education Degree from the University of Southern Maine. In 1992, the Bath Community Forestry Committee was formed, on which Mrs. Coombs, a charter member, was active for 20 years as a chairperson, Druid Park Promoter, and advocate for Bath trees. In 2012 she was honored at Bath Citizens Involvement Day as Citizen of the Year.

She is survived by her sister, Norma Nickerson Puffer, of Bath, her son Paul B. Coombs and his wife Beth, of West Bath, and her daughter Eileen Goddard and her husband Robert of Topsham. She also leaves four grandchildren, Nathaniel Goddard of Topsham, Suvarna Goddard Hastings and her husband Thomas of Gaithersburg, MD, Lauren O’Boyle and her partner Scott Yarymowicz of Leeds, MA, and Erin Ruff and her husband Monty, of Florence, MA, four greatgrandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

There will be no calling hours, but a Celebration of Life will be held at the Bath United Methodist Church on Oak Grove Avenue, Bath on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Bath Area Food Bank, P.O. Box 65, Bath 04530 or Druid Park Garden Fund, checks payable to The City of Bath c/o Cemeteries and Parks Office, 1 Oak Grove Ave., Bath, 04530.

Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath. Condolences may be made online a t www.Daiglefuneralhome.co m.