Theodore Allen (Coach) Eubanks

Theodore “Ted” A. Eubanks, 72, of St. Marys, died on Thursday, December 25, 2025 at Onaga Health and Rehabilitation surrounded by his family.

Ted Eubanks was born in Taft, CA, the son of the late Theodore Lewis and Eleanor (Roberts) Eubanks. His father was a schoolteacher and an avid hunter and fisherman. Like his father, Ted had a passion for hunting and fishing as well as school sports. He attended Taft College, where he received his Associate of Arts degree in physical education. His first occupation, however, was working in the oil fields of California.

At the time he met and married his spouse Kathy Kaiser, he had been taking catechism classes. He was, however, hesitant about making the final step. It took a head-on collision with a drunk driver speeding 80 mph in his lane to give him a change of heart. The steering wheel should have gone through his chest, but he was wearing a large Miraculous Medal and suffered from only a few cracked ribs. He knew Our Lady had saved him. He discovered how much Our Lady was a part of his life in the fact that he was married to Kathy on the eve of the feast of the Miraculous Medal and St. Catherine Laboure was his wife’s patron saint (St. Catherine was born on her birthday and she died on Ted’s birthday)! In any case, Fr. Post came and baptized Ted soon after the accident.

In 1982, he moved his growing family to St. Marys in order to provide a good Catholic education for their children. Ted began working in the maintenance department but, as soon as there was an opening in the athletic department, the rector, Fr. de la Tour hired him to take over the sports program. For the next 16 years, he was the athletic director, P.E. teacher, coach, head of the booster club and janitor. In those days, it was the booster club that was responsible for all the funding for the sports program, and the football field and the gyms had to be maintained by the athletic director. Needless to say, he retired early but continued helping to coach football for the next several years until his health failed.

On a final note, Ted always thought it would be great if he could die on his birthday. Instead, he died on Jesus’ birthday and will be buried on his (Ted’s) birthday!

Ted was preceded in death by his grandsons, Austin Eubanks and Matthew Eubanks.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, his sister, Karen Hillygus, his sons, Ted (Pilar), Tim (Anita), AJ (Nicole), Paul (Jennifer), Todd (Malia), Thomas (Teresa), and daughter, Jenny Trummer (Justin), 44 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 PM on Tuesday, December 30 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys. The rosary will be recited for Ted at 5:20 PM on Tuesday at The Immaculata, 701 N. 2nd St. in St. Marys. A requiem High Mass will be offered at 11AM on Wednesday, December 31, also at The Immaculata, followed by burial in Our Lady of Peace cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests donations to be made for the Gregorian Masses to be said for the repose of Ted’s soul.