Obituary of Byron Lee Deffinbaugh

Byron L. Deffinbaugh, 94, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2015 at his home on Spencer Lake. He was surrounded by his devoted wife of almost 74 years, their four children, spouses, grandchildren, and others. He was born March 25, 1921 in Ryegate, Montana to Lloyd and Mary Deffinbaugh. Byron married Evalyn Clark on July 3, 1941, in Shelton, WA. He served for nearly two years in the U.S. Navy during WWII. After the war, he earned his teaching degree at Seattle Pacific and taught for about 30 years in Seattle, Federal Way, and Shelton. The family also operated Pioneer Park Resort on Spencer Lake for three years. Byron was principal and taught at Pioneer School and later taught at Bordeaux Elementary. He concluded his teaching career with a year in Taiwan at a missionary children’s school. He was a much-loved teacher known to all his students as “Mr. D.” Byron’s life goal was to live his life to the fullest for God’s glory. He loved people and music—singing, whistling, playing the trombone, or keeping rhythm with bones or spoons. He started writing poetry while in the Navy and continued to write many poems until recent years. Byron was a charter member of Bible Baptist Church in Auburn, WA, faithfully served at First Baptist Church in Shelton, and later was instrumental in establishing the Bridge Community Church on Harstine Island. Byron and Evalyn had the honor of caring for Byron’s mother, Mary Deffinbaugh, the last five years of her life until her death in 2005 at age 106. Byron is survived by wife Evalyn (Clark) Deffinbaugh of Shelton; daughter Ruth (David) Harrison of Shelton; son Bob (Jeannette) Deffinbaugh of Richardson, TX; daughter Jean (Rod) Foist of Riverside, CA; son Dan (Deb) Deffinbaugh of Shelton; brothers Roy Deffinbaugh of Shelton and David Deffinbaugh of Seattle; sister Marjorie Hunter of Olympia; 17 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister Amy Deffinbaugh Burnett, his brother Robert Deffinbaugh, and grandson Timmy Deffinbaugh. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Christian charity of your choice.