Hello.  I use the latest EBDB (0.6.11) on an updated Spacemacs (develop
branch) atop GNU Emacs 26.3 on an updated Debian buster.  Emacs was
compiled locally and installed with GNU Stow.

I cannot mark EBDB roles as defunct.  To help you with reproducing the
bug, I reproduced it on a GNU Emacs configuration where the only
customization was augmenting `package-archives' (despite it probably not
being necessary to install EBDB ) and installing `ebdb'.  I also used a
minimal EBDB database.  After setting everything up, I started Emacs,
invoked `toggle-debug-on-error', opened the dribble file and quickly
reproduced the bug.

In short: invoke M-x ebdb; <RET> twice; move to the John line on the
ACME record and press E; toggle the defunct mark; try to apply.

The backtrace:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
Debugger entered--Lisp error: (ebdb-unacceptable-field ebdb-field-role)
  signal(ebdb-unacceptable-field (ebdb-field-role))
  #f(compiled-function (class &optional query alist) #<bytecode 0xe26771>)(ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role) ((mail . ebdb-field-mail) (phone . ebdb-field-phone) (address . ebdb-field-address) (domain . ebdb-field-domain)))
  apply(#f(compiled-function (class &optional query alist) #<bytecode 0xe26771>) (ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role) ((mail . ebdb-field-mail) (phone . ebdb-field-phone) (address . ebdb-field-address) (domain . ebdb-field-domain))))
  #f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe1ffad>)(ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role) ((mail . ebdb-field-mail) (phone . ebdb-field-phone) (address . ebdb-field-address) (domain . ebdb-field-domain)))
  #f(compiled-function (cl--cnm class &optional query alist) #<bytecode 0xe2e3c9>)(#f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe1ffad>) ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role) ((domain . ebdb-field-domain)))
  apply(#f(compiled-function (cl--cnm class &optional query alist) #<bytecode 0xe2e3c9>) #f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe1ffad>) (ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role) ((domain . ebdb-field-domain))))
  #f(compiled-function (&rest args) #<bytecode 0xe14ded>)(ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role) ((domain . ebdb-field-domain)))
  apply(#f(compiled-function (&rest args) #<bytecode 0xe14ded>) (ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role) ((domain . ebdb-field-domain))))
  #f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe1f709>)(ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role) ((domain . ebdb-field-domain)))
  #f(compiled-function (cl--cnm class &optional query alist) #<bytecode 0xe37051>)(#f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe1f709>) ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role))
  apply(#f(compiled-function (cl--cnm class &optional query alist) #<bytecode 0xe37051>) #f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe1f709>) (ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role)))
  #f(compiled-function (&rest args) #<bytecode 0xe1817d>)(ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role))
  apply(#f(compiled-function (&rest args) #<bytecode 0xe1817d>) ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role))
  ebdb-record-field-slot-query(ebdb-record-organization (nil . ebdb-field-role))
  #f(compiled-function (cl--cnm record field &optional slot) #<bytecode 0xe26729>)(#f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xb5e949>) #<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  apply(#f(compiled-function (cl--cnm record field &optional slot) #<bytecode 0xe26729>) #f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xb5e949>) (#<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>))
  #f(compiled-function (&rest args) #<bytecode 0xb86e55>)(#<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  apply(#f(compiled-function (&rest args) #<bytecode 0xb86e55>) #<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  #f(compiled-function (arg &rest args) #<bytecode 0xb6eab1>)(#<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  apply(#f(compiled-function (arg &rest args) #<bytecode 0xb6eab1>) #<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> nil)
  ebdb-record-delete-field(#<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  #f(compiled-function (record old-field &optional new-field) "Change the values of FIELD belonging to RECORD." #<bytecode 0xe26745>)(#<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  apply(#f(compiled-function (record old-field &optional new-field) "Change the values of FIELD belonging to RECORD." #<bytecode 0xe26745>) #<ebdb-record-organization ACME> (#<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>))
  #f(compiled-function (arg &rest args) #<bytecode 0xc59379>)(#<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  apply(#f(compiled-function (arg &rest args) #<bytecode 0xc59379>) #<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  ebdb-record-change-field(#<ebdb-record-organization ACME> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  #f(compiled-function (new-field) "Do the actual insertion of the newly-customized field." #<bytecode 0xe450d5>)(#<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  apply(#f(compiled-function (new-field) "Do the actual insertion of the newly-customized field." #<bytecode 0xe450d5>) #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  #f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe2fe0d>)()
  #f(compiled-function (cl--cnm field) "Check that the record owning FIELD can be edited.\nAlso redisplay the record after customization." #<bytecode 0xe450e1>)(#f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe2fe0d>) #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  apply(#f(compiled-function (cl--cnm field) "Check that the record owning FIELD can be edited.\nAlso redisplay the record after customization." #<bytecode 0xe450e1>) #f(compiled-function (&rest cnm-args) #<bytecode 0xe2fe0d>) #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  #f(compiled-function (&rest args) #<bytecode 0xe2fdf1>)(#<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  apply(#f(compiled-function (&rest args) #<bytecode 0xe2fdf1>) #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> nil)
  eieio-done-customizing(#<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role>)
  #f(compiled-function (&rest _) #<bytecode 0xe15c41>)((push-button :args nil :value "Apply" :notify #f(compiled-function (&rest _) #<bytecode 0xe15c41>) :button-overlay #<overlay from 12 to 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :from #<marker (moves after insertion) at 12 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :to #<marker at 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*>) (push-button :args nil :value "Apply" :notify #f(compiled-function (&rest _) #<bytecode 0xe15c41>) :button-overlay #<overlay from 12 to 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :from #<marker (moves after insertion) at 12 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :to #<marker at 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-
 role> default*>) nil)
  widget-apply((push-button :args nil :value "Apply" :notify #f(compiled-function (&rest _) #<bytecode 0xe15c41>) :button-overlay #<overlay from 12 to 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :from #<marker (moves after insertion) at 12 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :to #<marker at 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*>) :notify (push-button :args nil :value "Apply" :notify #f(compiled-function (&rest _) #<bytecode 0xe15c41>) :button-overlay #<overlay from 12 to 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :from #<marker (moves after insertion) at 12 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :to #<marker at 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*>) nil)
  widget-item-action((push-button :args nil :value "Apply" :notify #f(compiled-function (&rest _) #<bytecode 0xe15c41>) :button-overlay #<overlay from 12 to 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :from #<marker (moves after insertion) at 12 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :to #<marker at 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*>) nil)
  widget-apply((push-button :args nil :value "Apply" :notify #f(compiled-function (&rest _) #<bytecode 0xe15c41>) :button-overlay #<overlay from 12 to 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :from #<marker (moves after insertion) at 12 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :to #<marker at 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*>) :action nil)
  widget-apply-action((push-button :args nil :value "Apply" :notify #f(compiled-function (&rest _) #<bytecode 0xe15c41>) :button-overlay #<overlay from 12 to 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :from #<marker (moves after insertion) at 12 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*> :to #<marker at 19 in *CUSTOMIZE #<ebdb-field-role ebdb-field-role> default*>) nil)
  widget-button-press(13)
  funcall-interactively(widget-button-press 13)
  call-interactively(widget-button-press nil nil)
  command-execute(widget-button-press)
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

In GNU Emacs 26.3 (build 1, x86_64-pc-linux-gnu, GTK+ Version 3.24.5)
 of 2019-08-24 built on jorge--inspiron-5570
Repository revision: 96dd0196c28bc36779584e47fffcca433c9309cd
Windowing system distributor 'The X.Org Foundation', version 11.0.12004000
System Description:	Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)

Recent messages:
Applying Changes...
Entering debugger...
Quit
Mark set
s-, is undefined [2 times]
Composing main Info directory...done
command-execute: Command attempted to use minibuffer while in minibuffer
Mark saved where search started
Making completion list...
user-error: Beginning of history; no preceding item

Configured using:
 'configure --with-mailutils --enable-link-time-optimization'

Configured features:
XPM JPEG TIFF GIF PNG RSVG IMAGEMAGICK SOUND GPM DBUS GSETTINGS GLIB
NOTIFY ACL LIBSELINUX GNUTLS LIBXML2 FREETYPE M17N_FLT LIBOTF XFT ZLIB
TOOLKIT_SCROLL_BARS GTK3 X11 XDBE XIM THREADS LIBSYSTEMD LCMS2

Important settings:
  value of $LC_MONETARY: pt_BR.UTF-8
  value of $LC_NUMERIC: pt_BR.UTF-8
  value of $LC_TIME: pt_BR.UTF-8
  value of $LANG: en_US.UTF-8
  locale-coding-system: utf-8-unix

Major mode: Text

Minor modes in effect:
  tooltip-mode: t
  global-eldoc-mode: t
  electric-indent-mode: t
  mouse-wheel-mode: t
  tool-bar-mode: t
  menu-bar-mode: t
  file-name-shadow-mode: t
  global-font-lock-mode: t
  font-lock-mode: t
  blink-cursor-mode: t
  auto-composition-mode: t
  auto-encryption-mode: t
  auto-compression-mode: t
  line-number-mode: t
  transient-mark-mode: t

Load-path shadows:
None found.

Features:
(shadow sort mail-extr emacsbug message rmc puny dired dired-loaddefs
format-spec rfc822 mml mml-sec epa derived epg gnus-util rmail
rmail-loaddefs mm-decode mm-bodies mm-encode mail-parse rfc2231
gmm-utils mailheader sendmail rfc2047 rfc2045 ietf-drums mm-util
mail-prsvr mail-utils cl-print debug misearch multi-isearch eieio-custom
wid-edit ebdb-com crm mailabbrev ebdb-format ebdb cl-extra help-mode
eieio-opt speedbar sb-image ezimage dframe find-func eieio-base pcase
subr-x cal-menu calendar cal-loaddefs map timezone cus-start cus-load
elec-pair finder-inf info package easymenu epg-config url-handlers
url-parse auth-source cl-seq eieio eieio-core cl-macs eieio-loaddefs
password-cache url-vars seq byte-opt gv bytecomp byte-compile cconv
cl-loaddefs cl-lib time-date mule-util tooltip eldoc electric uniquify
ediff-hook vc-hooks lisp-float-type mwheel term/x-win x-win
term/common-win x-dnd tool-bar dnd fontset image regexp-opt fringe
tabulated-list replace newcomment text-mode elisp-mode lisp-mode
prog-mode register page menu-bar rfn-eshadow isearch timer select
scroll-bar mouse jit-lock font-lock syntax facemenu font-core
term/tty-colors frame cl-generic cham georgian utf-8-lang misc-lang
vietnamese tibetan thai tai-viet lao korean japanese eucjp-ms cp51932
hebrew greek romanian slovak czech european ethiopic indian cyrillic
chinese composite charscript charprop case-table epa-hook jka-cmpr-hook
help simple abbrev obarray minibuffer cl-preloaded nadvice loaddefs
button faces cus-face macroexp files text-properties overlay sha1 md5
base64 format env code-pages mule custom widget hashtable-print-readable
backquote threads dbusbind inotify lcms2 dynamic-setting
system-font-setting font-render-setting move-toolbar gtk x-toolkit x
multi-tty make-network-process emacs)

Memory information:
((conses 16 160169 18263)
 (symbols 48 25783 1)
 (miscs 40 230 235)
 (strings 32 46034 2853)
 (string-bytes 1 1391856)
 (vectors 16 23558)
 (vector-slots 8 658173 15904)
 (floats 8 65 159)
 (intervals 56 1664 460)
 (buffers 992 19))

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