George Colvin Deffenbaugh
George Colvin Deffenbaugh, 92, of 1061 John Brady Drive, Pennsdale, formerly the Floral Garden, went to be with the Lord Nov. 2, 2016.
He was born on Feb. 7, 1924, on the family farm in Nicholson Township near Smithfield in Fayette County, the son of George C. and Bessie Moser Deffenbaugh. He was married to the former Helen Lupold, of Williamsport, for 67 years.
George attended the one-room Griffin School and graduated from the Georges Township High School, R.D. Uniontown. He was known in high school as the country fiddler and played first chair, first violin in the high school symphony orchestra. He received the Bachelor of Arts from the Pennsylvania State College, now University, in 1943 and the Master of Science Degree from Bucknell University in 1951. He later persued Asian Studies at Bucknell, Bloomsburg, and Carnegie-Mellon Universities.
George was a veteran of World War II, serving from 1943 to 1946. He was overseas 22 months with the Fifth Air Force, 35thFighter Group, 40thSquadron in the South Pacific campaigns of New Guinea, East Indies, Philippines Is. and Okinawa as a mechanic and Flight Chief. He was a very active member of the American Legion as chairman of the High School Oratorical and Essay Contests. He was a past commander and Adjutant for West Branch Post 999 and Gerrett Cochran Post 1 of Williamsport, and the Lycoming County Legion Council, and a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3428, Muncy.
Mr. Deffenbaugh retired from the Williamsport Area High School District in 1984 as social studies supervisor after 38 years of school service, having taught civics, history, and economics in the high schools of Wellsboro, Montgomery and Williamsport. He was a past president of the Pennsylvania Council for education by television. In 1970, he was one of the 20 educators sent by the U.S. Office of Education to India for a ten-week overview of Indian culture and education. Under his leadership, Williamsport social studies teachers wrote course of study and introduced the teaching of Economics and Environmental Studies, for which recognition was received from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Mr. Deffenbaugh has been a member of the American Horticultural Society and along with his father-in-law, Donald Lupold, was recognized in the area for the propogation of azaleas, rhododendrons, lilacs, gladiolus and other ornamentals at their property known as “Floral Gardens.” As a member of the Muncy Baptist Church, he was a deacon, treasurer, choir member and taught the men’s and adult Bible classes for many years.
He had an avid interest in all kinds of music and played his fiddle with the Southern Tier Bluegrass Association of New York until being afflicted with arthritis. His interest in history led to membership in the Muncy Historical Society and the Tiadaghton Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, being a descendent of Captain John Moore, husband of Margaret Colvin. He was and organizer of the Friends of the Muncy Library which led to the establishment of a permanent home for the Muncy Public Library.
Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Helen (Lupold) Deffenbaugh; a son Greg Deffenbaugh of West Virginia; a daughter Susan (George) Edkin of Picture Rocks; and two grandchildren Greg Edkin, of Connecticut, and Heidi (Patrick) Gitschlag of Muncy.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the Muncy Baptist Church, 11 W. Penn St., Muncy, with Rev. Robert W. Rice officiating. Burial followed in Muncy Cemetery with graveside military honors accorded by combined veteran’s organizations. Friends called from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 557 E. Water St., Hughesville.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.mccartythomas.com