John Coombe

Forum and S.A. HCVC member John Coombe (alias J.C. on here) passed away on 19/3/2014 following a short illness.

I first met John on a club run about 2 years ago, and then found out he was my wife's cousin.

John left school at about 14 yrs of age to co-pilot semi's with his father. On one trip to Perth they burnt out 2 pistons in an old Albion at Nullabor Station. He and his father dismantled the engine while his mother drove from Adelaide in the Humber Snipe with spare parts. No bitumen roads then! While there John eyed off the station owner's daughter- later to become his wife Gwenda. He became an owner operator for most of his life, doing a lot of work in the outback.

When he retired he sold his 'W' model Kenworth with the unusual shutter bonnet and guards. He then got into restoring Mustangs, old caravans and a Chev C60.
An easily recognisable fellow as he always wore a 12" high black cowboy hat.
In the last 18 months, besides occasionally driving for me, he was restoring a Diamond T and furniture pan, to live in and carry a 4WD in the rear. Sadly, he did not have time to finish and enjoy it.

Always a great fan of Swishy, always having an answer and laugh for everything that Swishy put up. Always full of smart remarks and liked to have 'last' remark and laugh. Bet Swishy can't beat this.......he sold his black Mustang to the funeral director, which included the funeral cost.

JC, the legend & 1 will be sadly missed by all. His funeral will be on Wed 26th March @ 10-30 am at Taylor & Forgie, Gawler.

. . . he sold his black Mustang to the funeral director, which included the funeral cost.

Cheeky bugger.
I just read his last 25 post.
He would have been a good bloke to know.

My condolences.

-b

4tune@Sun
Gudday M8

Sorry to hear JC pass n

spose he haz moved on to a bettr Freeway wiff auto shift


goes 2 sho

We here 4 a good time.....n not a long time

cya

Sad to hear the passing of John I last spoke to him on the Hills of Adelaide Run. Rest in peace. Dave

Gday all , thanks Greg (4 tune8sun )for putting that up mate . Although John was a relatively recent member of the HCVC S.A. branch he brought with him a lifetime of memories of doing it hard out there on the road and I had an enormous respect for the man and his wife Gwenda who I believe did share the driving from time to time . I will never forget John and that old W model he had with "The Legend & I " on the bug scoop . Rob

sincere condolences to the Coombe family and daughter, who had assisted John to tell us all about the life and times of a proud man working out in the bush R.I.P

I first met John a couple of years ago at the Southern Yorke Peninsula run. Over time he and Gwenda became people you look forward to seeing at the various shows around. We called to see his toys some time after that and was blown away by the excellent resto Mustangs (one each), fibreglass caravans, Chev C60 and the newly arrived Diamond T. (I put some pics on here but don't remember what topic)
The last time I saw John was at the Truckie's Tribute in Murray Bridge where he told me about his health challenges.
John's life has a rich history of adventure and "gettin' it done". Sadly we will not get to hear the many stories he could tell.
From all S.A. HCVC members. thanks for the pleasure of knowing you John, and our deepest sympathy to Gwenda and family. RIP mate

Here is a link to the Video Tribute that was at John's funeral, thanks to Swishy for untangling it for me-

Clikity for sum good truck pix

Thanks Cam and Swisho for getting that link up here , watching that video tribute on the day was to me an experience and the fact that I clearly remember 'pissing' in Johns ear at the Roseworthy grain silo line up a number of years ago and introducing him to this H.C.V.C. forum and the H.C.V.C. S.A.branch both of which I believe he really enjoyed made that day a sad and ' special ' day for me and many others .
John was as iconic as that name on his bug scoop !
Thats my thoughts anyway Rob

Hey Rob, it was Greg who put me onto the video.

I think he was looking for a computer whiz to put it up.

Lucky Swishy knows what he's doing. LOL.