Edwin C. “Coach Ed” Deffenbaugh of Poteau, Oklahoma was born July 23, 1930 to Eugene and Lula (Smith) Deffenbaugh of Natural Dam, Arkansas in Crawford County. He made his final trip around the bases on November 22, 2020 in Poteau, Oklahoma at the age of 90.
He is survived by:
His wife of 67 years:
Helen (Pitchford) Deffenbaugh of the home
His wife’s sisters:
Wanda Richmond of Lufkin, Texas
Sue Finch of Austin, Texas
His wife’s brothers:
L.K. Pitchford and wife Norma of Poteau, Oklahoma
Bill Pitchford and wife Lynne of Heavener, Oklahoma
Sisters-in-law:
Pat Pitchford of Bossier City, Louisiana
Laura Mae Deffenbaugh of Arkansas
Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives that were like their own children
Plus, all of the many young men whose lives were forever changed by this amazing coach, as they continue to reach out as a reflection of his strength and guidance.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Earl and wife Stella Mae Deffenbaugh, Clarence Deffenbaugh, Harold and wife Ruby Deffenbaugh; a sister, Maude and husband J.B. Massey; his wife’s parents, Lester and Amy Pitchford; his wife’s brothers, Earl and Bob Pitchford; a brothers-in-law, Carl Richmond and J.C. Finch; wife’s sister, Bexta Jean Pitchford; and a sister-in-law, Patsy Pitchford.
Coach Ed was married to Helen Marie (Pitchford) Deffenbaugh for 67 years, and had been known to look at her with a twinkly in his eyes and say, “See that lady? The Lord put her in my life. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me”. He served in the Marines one year and then the Army for three years.
He graduated from the University of Houston with an education degree in 1959 and began his career as a teacher and coach at St. Pius X, where he taught from 1959 – 1976. They had 28 District Championships and 20 Final Four State Playoff appearances that resulted in 16 State Championships! One of his former students shared that “none of us were as good as we thought we were, but every one of us can tell a story of Coach Deffenbaugh’s humorous description of how he educated us to that fact. Coach Deffenbaugh made every one of us a better player, man, husband, and father than we ever thought we could be. . . he taught us to exceed our own expectations.”
He enjoyed forty-seven years as a Texas High School coach, and thirty-five of those as a Head Coach. He coached for seventeen years at Houston St. Pius X, five years each at Crockett and Marshall and eight years at Channelview. He coached 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A schools and had a career record of 593 victories and 243 losses. Coach Ed’s teams were in the play-offs during twenty seasons. In 1972 and 1975, he led the Panthers of Houston St. Pius X to two TCIL, State Championships. In 1980 he took the Crockett Bulldogs to the State Tournament in Austin. Nine of his former players signed professional contracts, and over fifty received college scholarships.
He was a Charter Member of the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and served as Director of the THSBCA in 1979 and 1980. In 1997 the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association inducted Ed into the Hall of Honor.
On November 11, 2020 Coach Ed was recognized and honored by St. Pius X as they dedicated their new St. Pius X High School Baseball Wall of Honor and placed his plaque as the very first inductee and center piece of that Wall of Honor. The plaque read that he was beloved by students and players and he will forever be remembered as the “Father of the St. Pius X Baseball Program”. In 2011 Coach Ed was inducted in the Texas High School Baseball Association Hall of Fame.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 28, 2020 at the Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Brock Hardin officiating. Burial will follow in Heavener Memorial Park in Heavener, Oklahoma under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener, Oklahoma.
The family thanks you for respectfully joining them in wearing a mask to the service.
Viewing will be from Noon until 6:00 p.m., Wednesday; 8:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday; 9:00 a.m. until Noon, Saturday at the funeral home.
To sign Coach Ed’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.
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