Obituary

It is with great sadness that the family of Carl Wayne Irlbeck of Plainview announces his passing in his home on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. He was 84. A visitation will be held Sunday, February 6, 2022, from 5:00 – 6:00 P.M. with a rosary following at 7:00 P.M. in the Kornerstone Chapel in Plainview, Texas. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, February 7, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainview, Texas with Father George Poonely officiating. Interment will follow in the Parklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview, Texas.

Carl was born on July 21, 1937, in Happy, Texas to John and Doris Irlbeck. He graduated from Happy High School and Clarendon Jr. College, and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from West Texas State University. He married Arlene Wills in Groom, Texas on March 3, 1962. Carl was an active member of Saint Alice Catholic Church. Being a man of God with a heart of gold, he was dedicated to inspiring the youth through the fundamentals of life. He loved being outside taking care of his flower gardens, windmills, and pecan trees; he even strived to reach a daily goal of 10,000+ steps. He was a master at card games and dominos because of his competitive spirit, wittiness and perseverance to win. Rest assured; he would not hesitate to give a stranger in need the shirt off his back. Carl inspired young and old farther than the eye can see over the West Texas Plains. His memory will be kept alive as a man who lived to see the smile on your face. His “reality is this; I’ve had more good things happen to me in my lifetime than any one-person deserves.”

Carl will be remembered by the way he built his legacy as an educator, coach and role-model for more than 50 years in the classroom and on the court(s). As a self-made competitor, he left his mark on an 84-foot court where he became not only a hero to many boys and girls, but also a legend to the game of basketball. He began his story as “a boy, a ball, an opportunity,” and his remarkable journey led to numerous accolades including: a Varsity record of 1,065 – 504 (67.9 winning percentage); multiple 20+ winning seasons with only 3 losing seasons; 30 playoff appearances with 26 District Championships; 4 State Championships at varied levels; coached Team and Individual State Championships in cross country, tennis and volleyball; 1994 Texas Basketball Coach of the Year; 1994 TABC All-Star Championship; traveled abroad to Australia coaching Texas teams and working with youth to develop the sport of basketball; 2006 became the 138th member elected into the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame; and 2018 inductee in the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife Arlene Irlbeck, one daughter Ramona Thiel and husband Chuck of Brock, Texas. Three sons; Cletus Irlbeck of Plainview, Everett Irlbeck of Plainview, Bruce Irlbeck and wife Kimberly of Lubbock, Texas. Ten grandchildren; Stephanie Thiel, Jackie Cyr, Adam Thiel, Amy Thiel, Benjamin Thiel, Kyle Thiel, Carson Irlbeck, Carleigh Brown, Steven Neeley, and Kiley Irlbeck. Four great-grandchildren; Aubrea, Dalton, Charlie and Zechariah. Two brothers; Dean Irlbeck and wife Marian of Redwing, Minnesota and Bill Irlbeck of Raleigh, North Carolina. Two sisters; Marcella Shaw of Happy, Texas and Angelina Carver of Foreman, Arkansas.

The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to Coach Carl Irlbeck Memorial Scholarship Fund at Happy State Bank, 3110 Olton Road, Plainview, Texas 79072.