Earl Joseph DeBaun M-E-140-8

Earl Joseph (Joey) DeBaun, 62, lost his match against bone cancer on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at The Courtyard Care Center in Long Beach, CA. Joey was born in Shelbyville, IN to the parents of Patricia Mae Burton and Earl Delmon DeBaun on October 20, 1955 as their only child. He grew up in Edinburgh IN, graduating Edinburgh Community High School in 1973. While at Edinburgh H.S., Joey was a standout in Cross Country and Track. He also belonged to various clubs and was described by his classmates as a funny, nice guy, great dancer, and trendsetter. He also discovered tennis shortly after high school and became very good at tennis, even to the point that his services were in demand as an instructor. In 1982, Joey relocated to Long Beach, CA to pursue a career in tennis. He participated in various tournaments in the Long Beach area, winning many. In 1986, he traveled to England to attend the matches of Wimbledon, a must of someone in love of the game. He began to teach at various community centers, gave private lessons, and organized the Greater Long Beach YMCA tennis program. He also became the head coach of a struggling tennis program at Cerritos High School, which he turned around within the first year. Joey coached there for the next 5 years, taking the team to the playoffs twice, which they had accomplished only once in the school’s entire history before. He did so well in fact, the newspaper in Long Beach ran a large story on him being so involved in tennis that the article described him as a “tennis junkie”. Both parents preceded him in death. Joey never married, had no children, aunts, uncles, and cousins survive him. A memorial service will be held at 11:15 AM on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Eskew-Eaton Funeral Home in Edinburgh, Indiana. Calling will be from 10:00 AM until time of service, followed with his interment, next to his mother, at Rest Haven Cemetery in Edinburgh. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Eskew-Eaton Funeral Home, FBO Joey DeBaun, 302 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh, IN 46124.