Robert W. Deffenbaugh, 83, of Hutchinson, formerly of Manhattan and Belleville, died March 30, 2010, at Hospice House in Hutchinson.

He was born in Wooster, Ohio, the son of Elmer G. and Mary Ann Swartz Deffenbaugh.

He graduated from Wooster High School and attended the University of Kansas. He was salesman and later state sales manager for MoorMan Feed for 31 years.
He was a member of the Church of The Holy Cross in Hutchinson, and for the past seven years was a volunteer Catholic Chaplain at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

On Aug. 14, 1946, he married Patricia P. Rataj in Munden, Kan. She died June 27, 2002. Survivors include: a son, Eric Deffenbaugh, and wife Cynthia Schaller, Olathe; a daughter, Diane McCarville, and husband Joe, Hutchinson; three grandchildren, Amy Jo McCarville and husband Mike Malmstrom, Portland, Ore., David McCarville, Helena, Mon., and Chloe Deffenbaugh, Olathe; and a great-grandson, Stellan Malmstrom. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.

Parish rosary will be at 10:30 a.m., followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Monday, April 5, 2010, at the Church of The Holy Cross, with Fr. Joe Eckberg presiding. Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2010, in Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan, with Fr. Don Zimmerman presiding. Graveside military honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard. Mr. Deffenbaugh will lie in state 1 to 9 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, all at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. The family will greet friends 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hutchinson, Kansas KAIROS, sent in care of the mortuary.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a condolence for the family.