Alfonso Sanchez, 86, passed away on Nov. 12, 2025, in Tacoma.
Known to friends and family as Bud or Buddy, he was born April 18, 1939, in Ravenna, Texas to Juan and Rosa (Perez) Sanchez, the 10th of 11th child in his family. The large and loving family moved from Texas to Dearborn, Michigan early in his life and would continue to spend summers in Texas as he grew up. He graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn in 1957. He played football and earned his bachelor’s degree from Sioux Falls College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1962.
While Bud was in college in Sioux Falls, he met Georgene Sieve. They married on July 24, 1964, and together they started to move westward.
Bud taught and coached for one year in Winner, South Dakota, one year in Moorcroft, Wyoming, and two years in Twin Falls, Idaho before being hired for his first head football coaching job in Soap Lake, Washington in 1966. He was hired as the head football coach at Willapa Valley HS in the fall of 1968, and they moved to the Willapa Harbor to live and raise their family.
Bud had a tremendous career in education and coaching. He served as a social studies and social science teacher (among other subjects), guidance counselor, and athletic director during his time at Willapa Valley. He coached basketball, track, and was the head football coach for 26 seasons, winning state championships in 1978 and 1979.
Bud retired after 34 years in education in 1997. He was inducted into the Washington State Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002. Bud continued to volunteer at local track meets until the mid-2010s, serving as a starter, clerk, and referee.
In the 1970s, Bud started working with some fellow teachers as a summer job in area national forests. He eventually started his own contracting business, specializing in the construction and maintenance of hiking trails, and was one of the first contractors nationwide to develop a technique of trail construction using explosives.
Bud was a devoted supporter of his family’s activities, traveling all over the region to support his children’s and grandchildren’s academic and athletic endeavors. He loved watching all sports, especially those of family members, following the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers, and going to the casino with Georgene. He was a member of Raymond Elks Lodge #1292.
He is preceded in death by his wife Georgene, parents Juan and Rosa, brothers Trinidad, Solomon, and John, sisters Pauline, Grace, and Agnes. He is survived by his son Tom (Jackie) Sanchez of South Bend, daughter Julie (Josh) Jewell of Raymond, son Rich (Lora) Sanchez of South Bend, daughter Jenny Sanchez of Raymond, and daughter Angie (Josh) Bagley of Spokane; brother Robert of Taylor, Michigan; sisters Mary Smith of Taylor, Michigan, Rita Delk of Phoenix, Arizona, Irene (Joe) Jacob, of Lincoln Park, Michigan; 16 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Dec. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Raymond Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Willapa Valley Scholarship Fund, South Bend Scholarship Fund, or the Raymond Scholarship Fund.
