Patrick Henry Centilli Sr., 90, of Canyon Lake, Texas, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on March 16, 1936, in Del Rio, Texas, Pat was the son of the late F.L. and Mary (Draeger) Centilli and the youngest of eight children.
Pat excelled in football, basketball, and baseball at Del Rio High School, where he was team captain and earned All-District honors in all three sports during his senior year. He represented the State of Texas in the Hearst U.S. All-Star Baseball Game in New York. Following high school, he attended Sam Houston State College on a full four-year athletic scholarship.

During his college years, Pat played semi-professional baseball in Springhill and Minden, Louisiana, where he received numerous honors. He was selected to participate in the All-Star Game three consecutive years and was named Best Pitcher in the Big Eight League in 1959. That same year, he joined the Houston Fed Marts, traveling to Wichita, Kansas, where the team won the National Semi-Pro Championship. Pat's name is listed in the National Baseball Congress booklet, alongside legends Satchel Paige and Whitey Ford, as one of the most outstanding pitchers in the National Semi-Pro Championship.

In the fall of 1960, while attending Sam Houston, Pat met the love of his life, Martha Debney, on a blind date. They were married on June 2, 1960, beginning a marriage that would span 66 wonderful years.

After signing a contract with the Kansas City Athletics, Pat and Martha traveled throughout the United States. During this time, they welcomed their first son, Patrick Jr. Recognizing the need for a more stable career as his family grew, Pat chose a life in education and coaching, where he would inspire young athletes for the next 42 years.

Pat's first coaching position was as head baseball coach at George West High School, where he was hired by his late brother, J.D. Centilli. He later served two years as head baseball coach at Premont ISD, followed by one year as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. His coaching career then took him to Lamesa, Texas, where he was assistant football coach and head baseball coach.

In 1967, Pat moved his family to Corpus Christi, where he served as assistant football and basketball coach at Flour Bluff High School. By then, his family had grown with the births of Cindy and Brent. The family later moved to Alto, Texas, where Pat served as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for eight years. In 1976, they relocated to Tarkington, where he continued as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. In 1980, the family settled in Bay City, Texas, where Pat spent the next 20 years as Defensive Coordinator at Bay City High School. His final coaching position came when he joined his longtime friend, Head Coach Warren Trahan, as Defensive Coordinator at Dickinson High School.
Throughout his coaching career, Pat touched countless lives. He helped coach the 1982 South All-Star Football Team and was part of the coaching staff that led the 1983 Bay City Blackcats to the Texas State Football Championship. In recognition of his achievements, Pat was inducted into the Sam Houston State University Hall of Honor in 1991 and the Greater Houston Football Coaches Hall of Honor in 2001.

Pat was also a devoted member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, where he proudly served as a Past Grand Knight.

After retiring, Pat and Martha made their home in Canyon Lake. He enjoyed golfing, spending countless hours in his woodshop, and, most of all, traveling across Texas to cheer on his grandchildren as they competed in football, baseball, softball, track, volleyball, basketball, and theater.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents, F.L. and Mary Centilli; his siblings, Bill (Francis) Centilli, Florine (Benny) Brown, Harold Centilli, Floryan (Mildred) Centilli, Frank (Betty) Centilli, John Douglas "J.D." Centilli, and Gerald (Lorain) Centilli; as well as several beloved nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Martha Centilli; his children, Patrick Centilli Jr. of Groveton, Texas; Cindy Wisener and husband Brad of Stephenville, Texas; and Brent Centilli and wife Diedra of College Station, Texas. He is also survived by his five cherished grandchildren: Shay Rowe (Dylan), Justice Wisener, Cameron Wisener, Kayla Wolfenden, and Kayce Wittner (Dauson); two great-grandchildren, Brooks Rowe and Oliver Wolfenden; his sister-in-law, Pauline Centilli; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Pat's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Canyon Lake, Texas. Visitation, followed by the Rosary, will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, at Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home in Canyon Lake.

Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Jasper City Cemetery in Jasper, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the St. Thomas the Apostle Family Life Center in Canyon Lake, Texas.