Michael J. “Mike” Farabaugh, a former longtime Evening Sun sports reporter, died June 25 at Stella Maris Hospice from complications of a fall. The Rosedale resident was 80.

“Mike was a very gentle soul who was a diligent and accurate reporter,” said Paul McMullen, a former Evening Sun sports reporter and colleague.

“That was the era before cell phones, the internet or websites, and you had to do a lot of legwork tracking down the spelling of a player’s name, for instance, for accuracy,” Mr. McMullen said. “And he was very good at it.”

Michael James Farabaugh, son of Edwin Farabaugh, an automobile dealership parts manager, and Anne Farabaugh, a real estate agent, was born in Baltimore and raised in Rosedale.

Mr. Farabaugh was 16 when he entered St. Charles College and Seminary in Catonsville.

He graduated in 1963 with an associate degree and earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin and philosophy in 1965 from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg.

While in seminary, he was a camp counselor and an assistant director of Camp Merrick, under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.

After graduating from Mount St. Mary’s, he taught French and coached junior and senior varsity basketball at the old Towson Catholic High School from 1965 to 1974, when he joined The Evening Sun sports department. Mr. Farabaugh covered prep sports and the old Baltimore Colts.

He was at the old Memorial Stadium during in 1976 covering a Colts game when a disgruntled MTA bus driver flew a Piper Cub airplane into the upper deck of the stadium after the game had ended, family members said.

“Prep and high school sports were a big deal. There was a lot of competition between The Sun, Evening Sun and the News American. It was very go-go,” Mr. McMullen said.

Mr. McMullen first became acquainted with Mr. Farabugh in the 1970s when he was freelancing for The Capital in Annapolis.

“I came into the Evening Sun newsroom in 1981 and Mike was on the desk, and I have to say he was very patient with me.”

The two men became close friends and shared membership in the Society of Christian Journalists, which was composed of a group of Evening Sun staffers.

“We liked drinking beer,” Mr. McMullen said, with a laugh.

Mike Klingaman, a Baltimore Sun features reporter, was a friend for 50 years.

“I worked with Mike his entire career at the Evening Sun and Sun, and he was the consummate pro, a diligent reporter and a true gentleman who held his own in a group of oft-rowdy sports reporters, his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor made you laugh, and wince, at the same time,” Mr. Klingaman wrote in an email.

The last time the Orioles won the World Series in 1983, it was Mr. Farabaugh who wrote the lead story.

Here is how it began: “Scott McGregor’s shutout of the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series has helped erase the memory of 1979 — the year the Birds lost to Pittsburgh after leading three games to one. McGregor scattered five hits and struck out six to nail down the Orioles’ third World Championship in the last 17 years.”

After the Evening Sun ended publication in 1995 and the staff was merged into The Sun, Mr. Farabaugh covered courts in Carroll and Harford counties.

He retired in 2001 and earned his real estate license.

From 2001 until 2017, when he retired a second time, he worked for Long & Foster, Re/Max First Choice Real Estate and Home Selling Assistance.

Mr. Farabaugh remained a sports fan and enjoyed following the Orioles and Ravens, family members said. He also liked watching “Jeopardy.”

Funeral services were held July 1 at the Evans Life Celebration Home in Parkville, with interment in Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Suzanne Jean Letterman; three sons, Michael J. Farabaugh II, of Stuart, Florida; Keith Farabaugh, of Timonium; and Brad Farabaugh of Parkland, Florida; two daughters, Christine Clevenger, of Sparks, and Heather Farabaugh of Baltimore; and eight grandchildren. An earlier marriage ended in divorce.