Clinton Irby

Clinton Dean Irby was born in San Antonio, Texas, on January 7, 1933, to Joseph Herman Irby and Frieda Zenner Irby. He died in his residence of 40 years on Friday, June 27, 2014, surrounded by the love and comfort of his family.
Clint spent an adventurous childhood in the days before TV and wifi roaming his neighborhood and the banks of the San Antonio River south of downtown. He caught snakes with his brother to sell to the zoo for food and built treehouses in empty lots. During WWII, his mother would take him to Randolph AFB to watch baseball games played by major league players stationed there. He became a bat boy and his lifelong love of the game began.
Clint graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1950 and enrolled at the University of Texas. At UT, he was a pitcher on the Longhorn baseball team. He loved being the closer. After graduation, he was drafted into the Army. He served in Europe and continued playing baseball as a member of the traveling army team making forays through the former Soviet bloc to pitch in West Berlin.
Clint was discharged from the Army in 1957 and became a coach in Marion, a small, rural community east of San Antonio. It was there that he met Zula Moltz and began a relationship that lasted through the rest of his life. Clint and Zula were married on August 24, 1963 in Cibolo, Texas.
Clint and Zula taught in Marion and then moved to San Antonio where Zula was an elementary teacher in the South San ISD and Clint coached at South San High School he was on the coaching staff at SSHS with Cliff Gustafson when the baseball team won the state championship in the mid1960s.
Clint and Zula moved to Uvalde in Summer 1968 with their infant daughter, Julie, where Clint became a coach at Southwest Texas Jr College. In 1971, their son, Kyle was born. Clint enjoyed many years at SWTJC teaching, managing the gym and fitness facilities, organizing intramurals and basketball and tennis tournaments and mentoring students. And, he developed many close friendships there.
Clint loved life and lived it well he and Zula were adventurous travelers, they traveled through all 48 lower states and especially loved Colorado, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. And, Clint loved food and the fellowship associated with it. At any gathering, you could count on finding him in the kitchen. If you asked him what he was doing, he would give that sly smile and say just checkin to see whats here He loved breakfast at Sunshine and Los Alamos and could be found there multiple times a week chatting with friends, trying to stir up a little bit of mischief and enjoying a taco or two.
Clint and Zula were blessed with many wonderful friends in the Adult Fellowship Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church and Clint cherished every one.
Clint is survived by his wife of 50 yrs and 10 months Zula Irby of Uvalde daughter Julie Irby of Austin son and daughterinlaw Kyle and Yvonne Irby of Pflugerville grandchildren Colby Moore, Joshua Irby, Caleb Moore and Grace Irby of Austin and Pflugerville brother and sisterinlaw Harold D. and Mary Irby of Taylor sistersinlaw Corrine Irby of Universal City, Lillian Kauffman of Universal City, Ethel Wahl and Myrtle Staats of Marion and numerous nieces and nephews.
Clint was preceded in death by his parents infant brother Olfield older brother Harry Irby nephew Michael Irby brothersinlaw Herman Moltz and Edward Moltz and sisterinlaw, Velma Reinhard Schwenn.
The family thanks Dr. Robert Svatek, Dr. Stephen Kalter, Dr. Brandon Lewis, Dr. Isaac Sosa and all of the other doctors who cared for Clint over the years. Special thanks to nurses Gina Zircher Montalvo and Bonnie Villareal at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital.
Pallbearers are Jim Swink, Roger Reinhard, Steve Bing, Derek Sandoval, John Harrell and Robbie Fowler. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Adult Fellowship Sunday School Class.
The family will greet visitors on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 from 5:007:00pm at RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 10:30 AM at First United Methodist Church in Uvalde. Burial will be in Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park, New Braunfels, TX at 3:30 PM.
Memorial donations may be made to the 1st United Methodist Church Building Fund, 301 N. High St., Uvalde, TX 78801 or the Herby Ham Activity Center, PO Box 5488, Uvalde, TX 78802.

Visitation

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
220 S. Getty St.
Uvalde, TX  78801
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
5:00 PM 7:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

First United Methodist Church of Uvalde
301 N. High
Uvalde, TX  78801
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
10:30 AM

Cemetery

Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park
2951 State Hwy. 46 South
New Braunfels, TX  78130