Douglas Stephen “Doug” Orebaugh, age 79, of Canton, GA passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from Pulmonary Fibrosis associated with Agent Orange.

Doug was a loving, compassionate, devoted husband, father, and grandfather (Papa Coach). He loved spending time with his bride, Jhonna, and his kids Stephen Orebaugh (Cydni) and Lauren Carter (Brian), and looked forward to watching his grandchildren, Tyler, Cameron, Clark Orebaugh, Kensley, Elle Carter, and Hudson Mabe play their sports and other activities.

Doug was born on March 16, 1947, in Dodge City, KS to Donald and Jean Orebaugh. He grew up in a family that consisted of six boys and one girl. As part of a military family, he spent his childhood in Alaska, while it was still a territory, and later in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Brewer High School in Fort Worth, TX where he excelled in football and ranked nationally in boxing. A Golden Gloves champion in the 112-pound flyweight division, Doug represented Fort Worth and Texas at the national tournament at just 16 years old. He also boxed at Madison Square Garden and was runner-up at the 1964 Olympic trials, earning a place as an Olympic alternate.

After graduation, Doug enlisted in the Marines, serving in Vietnam with a tank unit near Dong Ha and rising from loader to tank commander. His service left a lasting mark on his life. He carried the memory of those he served alongside and the scars of battle with him. He was a proud Marine and would always tell people, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

He then went on to attend Tarleton State University on the GI Bill, where he walked onto the football team at age 21 and earned a starting position at outside linebacker. He earned his teaching degree and later completed his master’s degree at Eastern New Mexico University. After graduation, Doug started a fruitful career as a high school History teacher and football coach. His teaching and coaching career spanned more than four decades, with opportunities to coach football, track and field, baseball, and boxing in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Georgia. He coached at both the high school and college levels, including Eastern New Mexico University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, and Texas Christian University.

He later moved his family to Georgia in 1998, where he coached football and track at Cherokee High, Benjamin Mays High, South Cobb, and finally retired from Kell High School in 2014. He touched the lives of many athletes that he continued to care about and communicate with throughout his lifetime. Doug believed coaching was about building character as well as developing athletes. One of his favorite sayings was, “That which is used develops. That which is not used wastes away.”

He won many accolades in his career, including recognition as a Hall of Fame coach, but his greatest gifts were his grandchildren who lovingly called him Papa Coach.

He is survived by his wife, Jhonna, children Stephen and Lauren and their spouses and children. He leaves behind one remaining sibling, Diana Ulrickson and her husband Kenny. He was loved by so many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and too many others to mention. Doug had a huge heart and loved being social at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church and representing the Knights of Columbus. He will be deeply missed and will continue to live on through the stories and experiences he left his family, friends, and athletes.

For all he accomplished, Doug’s greatest joy was his family. When asked what mattered most to him, his answer was simple: “My wife. My children. My grandchildren.”

Visitation will be held at Darby Funeral Home in Canton, GA on Friday, October 16, 2026, from 5:00–8:00 pm, with a rosary and eulogy at 7:00 pm.

A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jasper, GA at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with a reception to follow in the Social Barn.

Final burial will be Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 9:30 am at the Georgia National Veterans Cemetery. Procession will leave Darby Funeral Home at 8:30 am.