Rev. Ralph Jacob Diefenbach, 45, of 6622 Haskell St. died Wednesday. Pastor of St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Survivors: Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Diefenbach, Houston. Body to lie in state at Earthman Funerals until 5 p.m. Friday, until time of service at St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Rosary 5:15 p.m. Friday, C.Y.O.; 6:30 p.m. Friday, Third Order of St. Francis; 7 p.m., K. of C. 4550 and Order of Alhambra; 7:15 p.m., Catholic Young Adults Club; 7:30 p.m., Holy Name Union, Men;'s Club of St. Theresa, Serra Club, DCCM; 8 p.m. in the parish; 8:15 p.m., Altar Rosary Society; 8:30 p.m., Fourth Degree K.of C. ; 8:45 p.m., National Guard. Solemn Requiem High Mass 10:30 a.m. Saturday, St. Theresa's Church, Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. J. Cassata, celebrant, rev. John Witucki, Deacon; Rev. Anton Frank; subdeacon; Rev. M. C. Notzon, Master of Ceremonies. Body to be sent to Dallas for burial there Monday. In lieu of other remembrances, friends may contribute to St. Theresa's building fund. Earthman Funerals, 2420 Fannin, FA3-6377.
Father Diefenbach was killed when his Cessna 170 airplane crashed in Houston shortly after takeoff. He was killed along with 3 members of the Lockwood family from Dallas. They were on their way to Galveston, Texas from Houston.
Father Diefenbach was active in numerous civic and welfare organizations and help mold Houston's Catholic Youth Organization. He was a graduate of St. Thomas High School in Houston, and of St. Mary's Seminary here. He was ordained in 1937. He celebrated is first Holy Solemn Mass in Holy Trinity Church in Dallas.
He was well known as a television director and a musician. He established the parish of St. Theresa's at 6622 Haskell in 1946 after being discharged from the Army's chaplian corps as a major. He also was spiritual advisor to the Holy Name Union of the Diocese of Galveston. Under his 13-year leadership, St. Theresa's built a new church, a 17-classroom school, library, cafeteria and rectory. The parish membership exceeds 1000 families.
Father Diefenbach was the receipient of the 1956 Father McKenna Award from the Holy Name Society. The award is the Holy Name Soceity's highest priestly honor, and is given to only two United States priets each year. Father Diefenbach was the frist priest from the Southwest to receive the honor. He was cited by the society for the "excellence of your work in establishing the Galveston Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, and in fostering its gratifying growth since 1952."
Father Diefenbach served as a lieutenant colonel with the 143d Infantry Regiment of the Texas National Guard's 36th Division. He received international attention shortly after World War II, when he returned one of Hungary's most prized religious relics - the hand of St. Stephen to Josef Cardinal Mindszenty. The relic was removed from its treasure trove during the war and became lost. American soliders found the relic - the hand of Hungary's first king - and Father Diefenbach, a chaplain with General George Patton's Third Army, was assigned the task of returning the prize. He earned several battle stars during World War II.
He was featured in Life Magazine Vol. 19 No. 13 dated September 24, 1945. There is a large photo of Father Ralph Diefenbach with Hungary's leaders and the priest that delivered the relic to Father Ralph.
Father Diefenbach was killed when his Cessna 170 airplane crashed in Houston shortly after takeoff. He was killed along with 3 members of the Lockwood family from Dallas. They were on their way to Galveston, Texas from Houston.
Father Diefenbach was active in numerous civic and welfare organizations and help mold Houston's Catholic Youth Organization. He was a graduate of St. Thomas High School in Houston, and of St. Mary's Seminary here. He was ordained in 1937. He celebrated is first Holy Solemn Mass in Holy Trinity Church in Dallas.
He was well known as a television director and a musician. He established the parish of St. Theresa's at 6622 Haskell in 1946 after being discharged from the Army's chaplian corps as a major. He also was spiritual advisor to the Holy Name Union of the Diocese of Galveston. Under his 13-year leadership, St. Theresa's built a new church, a 17-classroom school, library, cafeteria and rectory. The parish membership exceeds 1000 families.
Father Diefenbach was the receipient of the 1956 Father McKenna Award from the Holy Name Society. The award is the Holy Name Soceity's highest priestly honor, and is given to only two United States priets each year. Father Diefenbach was the frist priest from the Southwest to receive the honor. He was cited by the society for the "excellence of your work in establishing the Galveston Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, and in fostering its gratifying growth since 1952."
Father Diefenbach served as a lieutenant colonel with the 143d Infantry Regiment of the Texas National Guard's 36th Division. He received international attention shortly after World War II, when he returned one of Hungary's most prized religious relics - the hand of St. Stephen to Josef Cardinal Mindszenty. The relic was removed from its treasure trove during the war and became lost. American soliders found the relic - the hand of Hungary's first king - and Father Diefenbach, a chaplain with General George Patton's Third Army, was assigned the task of returning the prize. He earned several battle stars during World War II.
He was featured in Life Magazine Vol. 19 No. 13 dated September 24, 1945. There is a large photo of Father Ralph Diefenbach with Hungary's leaders and the priest that delivered the relic to Father Ralph.
Rev. Ralph Jacob Diefenbach, 45, of 6622 Haskell St. died Wednesday. Pastor of St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Survivors: Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Diefenbach, Houston. Body to lie in state at Earthman Funerals until 5 p.m. Friday, until time of service at St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Rosary 5:15 p.m. Friday, C.Y.O.; 6:30 p.m. Friday, Third Order of St. Francis; 7 p.m., K. of C. 4550 and Order of Alhambra; 7:15 p.m., Catholic Young Adults Club; 7:30 p.m., Holy Name Union, Men;'s Club of St. Theresa, Serra Club, DCCM; 8 p.m. in the parish; 8:15 p.m., Altar Rosary Society; 8:30 p.m., Fourth Degree K.of C. ; 8:45 p.m., National Guard. Solemn Requiem High Mass 10:30 a.m. Saturday, St. Theresa's Church, Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. J. Cassata, celebrant, rev. John Witucki, Deacon; Rev. Anton Frank; subdeacon; Rev. M. C. Notzon, Master of Ceremonies. Body to be sent to Dallas for burial there Monday. In lieu of other remembrances, friends may contribute to St. Theresa's building fund. Earthman Funerals, 2420 Fannin, FA3-6377.
Father Diefenbach was killed when his Cessna 170 airplane crashed in Houston shortly after takeoff. He was killed along with 3 members of the Lockwood family from Dallas. They were on their way to Galveston, Texas from Houston.
Father Diefenbach was active in numerous civic and welfare organizations and help mold Houston's Catholic Youth Organization. He was a graduate of St. Thomas High School in Houston, and of St. Mary's Seminary here. He was ordained in 1937. He celebrated is first Holy Solemn Mass in Holy Trinity Church in Dallas.
He was well known as a television director and a musician. He established the parish of St. Theresa's at 6622 Haskell in 1946 after being discharged from the Army's chaplian corps as a major. He also was spiritual advisor to the Holy Name Union of the Diocese of Galveston. Under his 13-year leadership, St. Theresa's built a new church, a 17-classroom school, library, cafeteria and rectory. The parish membership exceeds 1000 families.
Father Diefenbach was the receipient of the 1956 Father McKenna Award from the Holy Name Society. The award is the Holy Name Soceity's highest priestly honor, and is given to only two United States priets each year. Father Diefenbach was the frist priest from the Southwest to receive the honor. He was cited by the society for the "excellence of your work in establishing the Galveston Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, and in fostering its gratifying growth since 1952."
Father Diefenbach served as a lieutenant colonel with the 143d Infantry Regiment of the Texas National Guard's 36th Division. He received international attention shortly after World War II, when he returned one of Hungary's most prized religious relics - the hand of St. Stephen to Josef Cardinal Mindszenty. The relic was removed from its treasure trove during the war and became lost. American soliders found the relic - the hand of Hungary's first king - and Father Diefenbach, a chaplain with General George Patton's Third Army, was assigned the task of returning the prize. He earned several battle stars during World War II.
He was featured in Life Magazine Vol. 19 No. 13 dated September 24, 1945. There is a large photo of Father Ralph Diefenbach with Hungary's leaders and the priest that delivered the relic to Father Ralph.
Father Diefenbach was killed when his Cessna 170 airplane crashed in Houston shortly after takeoff. He was killed along with 3 members of the Lockwood family from Dallas. They were on their way to Galveston, Texas from Houston.
Father Diefenbach was active in numerous civic and welfare organizations and help mold Houston's Catholic Youth Organization. He was a graduate of St. Thomas High School in Houston, and of St. Mary's Seminary here. He was ordained in 1937. He celebrated is first Holy Solemn Mass in Holy Trinity Church in Dallas.
He was well known as a television director and a musician. He established the parish of St. Theresa's at 6622 Haskell in 1946 after being discharged from the Army's chaplian corps as a major. He also was spiritual advisor to the Holy Name Union of the Diocese of Galveston. Under his 13-year leadership, St. Theresa's built a new church, a 17-classroom school, library, cafeteria and rectory. The parish membership exceeds 1000 families.
Father Diefenbach was the receipient of the 1956 Father McKenna Award from the Holy Name Society. The award is the Holy Name Soceity's highest priestly honor, and is given to only two United States priets each year. Father Diefenbach was the frist priest from the Southwest to receive the honor. He was cited by the society for the "excellence of your work in establishing the Galveston Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, and in fostering its gratifying growth since 1952."
Father Diefenbach served as a lieutenant colonel with the 143d Infantry Regiment of the Texas National Guard's 36th Division. He received international attention shortly after World War II, when he returned one of Hungary's most prized religious relics - the hand of St. Stephen to Josef Cardinal Mindszenty. The relic was removed from its treasure trove during the war and became lost. American soliders found the relic - the hand of Hungary's first king - and Father Diefenbach, a chaplain with General George Patton's Third Army, was assigned the task of returning the prize. He earned several battle stars during World War II.
He was featured in Life Magazine Vol. 19 No. 13 dated September 24, 1945. There is a large photo of Father Ralph Diefenbach with Hungary's leaders and the priest that delivered the relic to Father Ralph.
