Father Thomas Diebel

Father Thomas “Tom” R. Diebel, 79, died February 16, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas, where he moved to be with his family family. He is survived by one son, Tom Thomas, daughter-in-law, MariEtta and many that thought of him as a father.. Tom Diebel was born December 1, 1938, in Lubbock, to Henry T. Diebel and Bertie Feazell. He entered the Marines. He later attended Texas Tech University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in social work. He completed his seminary training at St. Mark Benedictine Monastery in South Union, Kentucky at the age of 41. Father Diebel was ordained a priest by Bishop Lawrence DeFalco for the Diocese of Amarillo, in Lubbock on June 6, 1979, in Our Lady of Grace Church. Father Tom continued ministering in the Diocese of Lubbock from its establishment in 1983. After ordination, Father Tom served at Our Lady of Grace Church, while also assisting in ministry for four other parishes. While assigned to Saint Margaret Mary In Lamesa from 1979-1980, he was appointed Director of Scouting for Catholic Boy and Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls, a position he held well after his retirement from the active priesthood in July 1998. Between 1980 and 1984, Father Diebel served at Our Lady of Grace Church, as sacramental minister at Saint Mary Church in Spur and Saint Francis Church in Wolfforth. He served as administrator and pastor at Saint Theresa Church, Lubbock; as pastor of Saint Mary, Spur, as associate pastor at Slaton Saint Joseph, and as auxiliary priest at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock. Father Tom was a “worker priest,” a designation for a priest who works in a secular job in addition to his priestly duties. In January 1988, he traveled to Fort Worth to serve as chaplain for Ledel Shows, an entertainment company. He returned to the Diocese of Lubbock and ministered in parishes in Post, Wilson, Jayton and Spur. Father Tom was always available to visit hospital patients in an emergency situation. He served as Emergency Room chaplain at Lubbock General Hospital (now University Medical Center) in 1990. He also served as a chaplain at Methodist/Covenant Hospital. Father Tom was active with the diocesan Catholic War Veterans Post 1942, chartered August 9, 2004, with 25 members. Father Tom Diebel was the Lubbock chaplain as well as serving as the state chaplain for Texas. Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church on February 26, with Bishop Robert Coerver as principal celebrant, with many of Father Tom’s brother priests of the diocese. Vigil service will be at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, February 25 in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church.

Father Thomas Diebel

December 1, 1938 - February 16, 2018