Roll Call Tribute

David Lee LaCombe
February 9, 1965 ~ October 15, 2022

David Lee LaCombe, 57, of Lubbock, Texas passed away the morning of October 15, 2022. He was born in Wharton, Texas on February 9, 1965, to Andrus and Theresa LaCombe. Raised in “big town” Sweeny, Texas, he played Little League Baseball, sang in the Sweeny Bulldog Choir, served as Student Council President and graduated Valedictorian of the Sweeny High School Class of 1983.

After graduation, he made his way to Texas A & M (Gig ‘Em Aggies) where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering.

Thanks to a chance encounter with a fellow Aggie, he found himself employed as an application engineer for American Turbine Pump Company in Houston. After several years learning the ropes in Houston, he moved to Lubbock to manage the west Texas branch. After 30+ years as GM with American Turbine/National Pump, he accepted an opportunity with Wolf Pump in Abernathy, Texas. If asked what his title was, he would smile and say everything from engineering to janitorial. He was always willing to do whatever was needed.

During his tenure with American Turbine, he met the love of his life, Julie Bergmann. After a six-month courtship, he proposed next to where they met…in a parking lot beside a dumpster! For their last 20 years together, she has constantly reminded him of how romantic he was. Married in the heat of the Gulf Coast on July 20,2002. Their first child, Madeleine Marie arrived in the fall of 2003, and soon after Kaitlyn Rose blessed them in the spring of 2005. Julie and the girls were the loves of his life.

Always ready with a joke, David made friends everywhere he went and was always willing to give you the bandana off his head. He was an avid woodworker, including making the crib his girls used as infants. David loved to cook, specializing in his ancestral Cajun cuisine, or any interesting new recipe he could find. As a family, he would often plan road trips to interesting historic sites or searching for geocaches. He was the family storyteller who recited the “Cajun Night Before Christmas” in his Cajun accent.

David lived his family first philosophy and still spoke to his brother Glen and sister Debra daily. He created and built woodworking projects with his daughter Katie and attended every football game and concert by his flautist daughter Maddie.

David was preceded in death by his parents Andrus and Theresa.

David is survived by his wife, Julie Bergmann LaCombe, and his daughters, Madeleine “Maddie” Marie, 19, and Kaitlyn “Katie” Rose, 17 of Lubbock, Texas. Best friend and brother, Glen LaCombe and wife Debra of Brazoria, TX. Favorite sister, Debra McCormac and husband Wendell of Sweeny, TX. Nephew Corey LaCombe and wife Stephanie of Lexington, TX. Nieces Ashley Andrews and husband Jon of Gainsville, GA. Stefanie LaCombe and fiancé Nick Jones of West Columbia, TX. Lindsay Almario and husband Alfred of Cypress, TX. Amarriea Lawson, and Amaya Bergmann of Friendswood, TX. Brother-in-law John Bergmann of Friendswood, TX and Mother-in-law Joyce Bergmann of Alvin, TX .

David also leaves behind many family and friends and will be missed dearly by all.

Cremation arrangements are under the personal care of Combest Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Lubbock, TX. A Celebration of Life will take place in the Houston area later. Please visit https://sites.google.com/view/davidlacombecelebrationoflife/home for information.

Memorials may be sent to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 2807 42nd Street, Lubbock, Texas 79413, https://stchristophers.org/ or to Liver Cancer Research.