Sara Claire Deffenbaugh

Sara Claire Deffenbaugh 

April 18, 1935 – January 16, 2025

Sara Claire Deffenbaugh was born to Ray and Ruby Hollingshead on April 18, 1935 in Lamesa, Texas. She had one younger sister, Nora Nell, whom she loved dearly. Her mother was the pianist and organist at the Baptist church and a piano teacher. Her father was a mail carrier for the post office. When Sara was 12 years old, her father switched mail routes, and homes, with another postal carrier and moved the family to Winters, Texas. At Winters High School, Sara enjoyed cheerleading and playing drums in the band. Her friendliness earned her the title of Most Popular in her senior year.

She attended Hardin-Simmons University and Baylor University. Her major was business although she later described that as “boring!” and said she should have studied art. (She was a natural artist, who could do anything creative!) She worked as a secretary for General Motors and Pan American Petroleum in Abilene, TX. She also worked with ITT Kellogg providing staff support for the Atlas Missile program, in Abilene, and also Los Angeles, CA. In Los Angeles she met Walter John Deffenbaugh. After a date or two, he was transferred to Sedalia, Missouri, and she soon followed. Long story short - Sara stopped by Walt’s desk one day to drop off some papers, and he extended a last-minute invitation for her to join him on a vacation trip to Florida. She said “Yes”, and their first stop was a small wedding chapel in Miami, Oklahoma, where they kicked off their life together. They later moved to Naperville, IL, where Sara gave birth to her first son, “W.J”. Little W.J. only lived two days. Sara is surely rejoicing now to be with him again!

Jay and Ann were born in Florida, and Janet in Ohio. The family moved to Texas in 1976 near Sara’s mother, Ruby, and sister, Nora, and her family. Sara’s and Nora’s children - six cousins, close in age - grew up together and will forever share a special bond.

The Deffenbaugh family moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 1981. In 1983, Sara fell in love with a little blue house in nearby Alva, FL and convinced Walt that it was the place where they needed to be. Walt passed away in 1985, and Sara lived in Alva many years afterward. There she developed lasting friendships, enjoyed her garden and pets, attended Alva United Methodist Church and was a secretary at Allstate Claims and Richmond Avenue Baptist Church in Lehigh Acres. In 2016, she left the little blue house to be near her grandchildren in Colquitt, GA. In Sara-style, she made herself at home in Georgia, attended Mother’s Home Church, where she played piano and sang, and later joined First Baptist Church. She loved her Sunday School class, and participating in the nursing home ministry.

Sara was very creative and artistic. She loved music and dance. She painted pictures - of lakes and bluebonnets and lighthouses. She sewed adorable dresses, and wrote clever poems.

She enjoyed working as a secretary. She had a servant’s heart and was very conscientious and courteous. She loved to file and take notes in shorthand. She composed letters with perfect form and grammar, and typed at lightning speed. She loved typing as much as playing piano! 

Sara loved the outdoors, gardening, and sunlight. She was a Cub Scout leader and Camp Fire Blue Bird leader. She adored animals, especially dogs. And they loved her!

Sara had a heart for people, and a love of life. She was selfless and generous. She viewed everyone she met as someone worth knowing. She was always interested in what others had to say, and had a natural ability to make others feel valued.

In her son Jay’s words: “She loved everyone without measure and was loved back with equal measure. I can’t remember a time EVER that she put herself above or in front of anyone else. Just as Jesus would have us do.”

To Sara from her family: Mom, you taught us, by the way you lived; to be thankful, to be kind, to be humble, and to be joyful. You will continue to inspire us always. We love you Mom, Sara, “Bid-dee”. There will never be another like you.

Sara is preceded in death by her husband Walter John Deffenbaugh, infant son W.J. Deffenbaugh, parents Ray (“Paw-Paw”) and Ruby (“Roogie”) Hollingshead, sister Nora Ihlenfeldt, and nephew Kevin Heathcott.

She is survived by her son Jay David Deffenbaugh (Lynn) of Mesa, AZ, and daughters Jean Ann Blankenship (Darrin) of Colquitt, GA, and Janet Eileen Stringer (Jimmy) of Tallahassee, FL, three grandchildren, Zach, Holly and Jake Blankenship, niece Ricci Heathcott, nephew Eric Ihlenfeldt, sweetest-ever dog Willene and coolest cat Missy.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January, 25, 2025 at Richmond Avenue Baptist Church at 304 Richmond Avenue North, Lehigh Acres, Florida with Pastor David Soden officiating. Visitation will be 10:00-11:00 and funeral service at 11:00 with internment to follow at Alva Cemetary in Alva, FL.

A memorial gathering will be held at a later date in Colquitt, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Bainbridge-Decatur County Humane Society, or you local animal shelter of choice.