RANDOLPH - Paul William Coombs, 72, of Randolph died in the early morning of Jan. 15, 2010, at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. He was born April, 20 1937, in Chicago to Rudolph and Helen (Romanchuck) Coombs. Paul grew up in Yonkers, N.Y., before moving to Huntington, W.Va., when he was 9, and later attended Marshall College on a swimming scholarship. Paul was married to Delores Ann Tucker on Dec. 31, 1965, in Manassas, Va. After college, Paul worked in several fields from aerospace to defense, where he had the distinct honor of working under the direct supervision of Werner Von Braun in the modification of rocket engines used to launch into orbit the first satellites, as well as the early U.S. missile defense system. It was not long before settling into advanced electronics that Paul started his own business, PWC Laboratories Inc., in Bridgeport, Conn. Paul's company specialized in the design and manufacturing of prototype printed circuit boards for associations and universities such as NASA, for which Paul made the sun sensor boards for the first Tiros 1 weather satellites; and Cornell University, for which Paul made a prototype pacemaker for a canine. Paul also has the unique privilege of having made two PC boards for a lunar mission that are forever placed on the moon. Besides Paul's many accomplishments in aerospace and PC design, he also owned and operated a boat yard, silk screening business, aerosol filling business as well as a consulting business. Paul was babysat by the 'lady in red' who informed on John Dillinger. She watched Paul as his parents had a drink in the dining car on a train headed out of Chicago in 1937. He had been in all 48 contiguous states. He played the accordion, which made his mother very happy. He was asked to train Marines and Naval fighting men in advanced swimming survival techniques before choosing to attend college. He once swam 10 miles down the Ohio River on a bet -- and won. He met Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris after a ball game and got them to sign a baseball for his cousin. He was held by the FBI for suspected sabotage of a rocket engine and immediately released and cleared of all suspicions after learning he was acting under the direct orders of Werner Von Braun. He raced Paul Newman on the Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield, Conn. He was initiated into the Masonic Lodge on Jan. 15, 1970, in Fairfield, Conn. and rose to the 32nd degree. He completed flight school. Being able to list a myriad of his achievements, Paul would have argued his greatest accomplishment was his family, and a testament to that would be those surrounding him in his final years, days and moments. He will be especially remembered for his quick wit, humor, gift to gab and the tenaciousness that allowed him to achieve in so many diverse endeavors. He is survived by his wife, Delores; daughter Celeste and her husband, James Britt, of Gardiner, daughter Celene and her husband, David Haskell, of Pittston, daughter Celisa Coombs, of Gardiner, and son Chad Coombs, of Venice, Fla.; grandchildren Amber, Austin, Ashton, Hayden, Mason and Brenden; and sister Carol Black, of Scottsdale, Ariz. Paul was preceded in death by his daughter, Helen Mary; and brother Roger. A graveside service will be held in the spring at Maplewood Cemetery in Lincolnville. Arrangements have been entrusted to Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.