Obituary: Hombel, James H.

HOMBEL, James H. “Granddad” With family by his side, Jim peacefully entered his eternal home January 2, 2015.

He was born March 11, 1928, and lived his early life in Enterprise, OR where he met Joyce Smith, who became his loving wife of 63 years.

Jim served overseas in the Army during the Japanese Occupation phase of WWII.

Joyce and Jim went on from Enterprise to live in Coeur d’Alene and Moscow, ID, Spokane and Clarkston, WA, and he worked as a Master Outboard Motor Mechanic for many years.

Jim was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved camping, hunting and fishing with family and friends.

During the years in Clarkston, Jim became an active member of several muzzle loader clubs.

This involvement led him to create a mountain man history presentation which he shared at local elementary schools in that area.

Jim was always available when family or friends had a need for extra hands or for something to be fixed; thus, he was a great neighbor whether on a city street or next door in a camping area.

After living in Clarkston for 24 years, Jim and Joyce moved back to Spokane in 2000 to live closer to their children and the family they cherished.

Memories of Jim’s storytelling, his laughter, his open arms and home, and his unconditional love will be treasured by those who knew and loved him.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Genevieve and Sig McCubbin, his loving wife Joyce (1/11/2012), his son, PFC.

Ray Hombel (1969, serving as a Marine in Vietnam at the time of death), and his two brothers Don and Jude Hombel.

He is survived by his son Guy and Charlene Hombel (Spokane); his daughter Lynne and Dick Anderson (Horseshoe Lake, WA); grandsons Josh Hombel (Spokane), Bob and Rachel Blom (Cheney, WA), Clint and Heather Anderson (Portland, OR); and granddaughters Melissa and Ryan Finnegan (Tehachape, CA), Angee Dwyer (Spokane) and Theresa and Matt Silver (Mead, WA), 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

There are numerous friends, nieces and nephews who will also remember family outings, laughter and Granddad’s stories.

Jim’s family wants to thank the staff at both Royal Plaza Assisted Living and Royal Park Care and Rehab Center for the compassionate care they gave to our treasured Granddad during the final phases of his life.

A memorial service will be held at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines, Spokane Valley, WA at 2 PM on January 24, 2015.

In lieu of flowers, donations to a local charity of your choice would honor our dad.