- Date Of Birth: January 21, 1942
- Date Of Death: June 11, 2018
- State: Illinois
Graham Dean Updike, 76, of Centralia, passed away Monday, June 11, 2018 at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital.
Graham was born January 21, 1942 in Greensburg, IN., son of Floyd and Ruth (Hoovermace) Updike. He married Elizabeth “Betty” Brunauer on December 27, 1963 in Evanston, IL.
Survivors include his wife Betty, son Bradford Updike and wife Missy of Nebraska, daughter Theresa Thompson and husband Joseph of Noblesville, IN., grandchildren: Adam Grace Updike and Hannah Thompson.
Graham is preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Ruth Updike. He graduated in 1966 from Indiana State University with a B.S. degree in Education and he also attended Franklin College, where he was a four-year varsity letterman in football (1960-1963). While at Franklin College, he rushed for 2,500 yards and was the leading all-time rusher for several years.
He was also all-conference at Franklin in 1962 and 1963, and was team MVP in 1962.
He worked over 30 years as a high school teacher and approximately 35 years as a high school coach prior to retirement (football, track, basketball, wrestling, cross-country and swim club). From 1967 to 1973, he was head track and football coach at Flora High School, where he guided the Wolves to the North Egypt Conference track title.
It was there where he became acquainted with Centralia through track meets. From 1973 – 1998, he was an assistant football coach at Centralia High School, which won South Seven Conference football titles in 1974 and 1977. He was an assistant track coach from 1973 – 1998 during a period when Centralia won several conference track titles.
He served as an assistant coach in wrestling (5 years), cross country (2 years) and also served as the head swim coach for Centralia’s summer swim program (6 years, conference champion 1 year and runner-up 2 years).
Mr. Updike loved golf and played in leagues several years at Colonial Golf Course. Prior to that, he also played golf several years at Meadow Woods Country Club, where he was a member for over 30 years (Club President in 1997). He was a member of the Centralia Masonic Lodge, Elks, Moose and Bears Local #1.
