The sign in the Woolwich town office hearing room said it all: “Thank You Mr. Woolwich!” It was a fitting tribute to Selectman Lloyd Coombs. If you missed the news, Coombs, 82, is retiring at the end of the month and yes, this time he really does mean it. 

Woolwich residents gathered Thursday evening. Dec. 8 to wish him all the best and express their gratitude to Coombs for his many years of service to the community. Coombs has been a familiar face at the town office for over 20 years. He first ran for the board of selectmen in 1993, following a 43-year career with the Navy’s SUPSHIP at Bath Iron Works.

“Eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five days later and here we are,” he quipped in a short speech to his well-wishers who crowded into the hearing room. The guests included Westport Island Selectman George Richardson and Selectman Sukey Heard of Arrowsic.

Earlier, Coombs told the Wiscasset Newspaper he’s trying to get used to the idea of not being a selectman. “I miss it already and I’ll miss it more after Dec. 31,” he said. Dec. 31 his final day in office.

“We had some spirited debates over one issue or another but afterwards we always left the room as friends,” Chairman David King Sr. said of Coombs. “I’ll miss having him sitting at the table with us.”

Selectman Jason Shaw called Coombs a mentor and role model. “He’s very knowledgeable about town government. People that have known and worked with Lloyd know that he’s always put the town of Woolwich first.”

“I’ll miss his wisdom,” Selectman Dale Chadbourne said. “If Lloyd doesn’t know the answer to a question right off, he’ll do whatever he has to to find it.”

“We could always count on Lloyd being the voice of reason,” added Selectman Allison Hepler.

In October, Coombs felt the time had come to retire. He announced he wouldn’t be seeking another term on the select board. Allen Greene, a longtime member of the planning board, was elected in November to fill the seat.

Many residents recall that Coombs also served as Woolwich’s town administrator for 10 years.

Coombs said he and his wife Collette plan to stay active in the Woolwich Historical Society. They also plan to continue on as Woolwich Day volunteers and to help organize the community’s Veteran’s Day program and annual Yule Sing celebration.

Coombs reminded his many well-wishers his retirement wasn’t goodbye or even so long. “I plan to stick around,” he said.