Our totally awesome, hilarious, loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Deborah Annette Violette Thornton Woodring, passed away Sunday, August 14th, 2011, after a fearless battle with breast cancer. Diagnosed at Stage IV in March of 2010, by the time of her death the breast cancer had spread to her brain. She stayed brave to the very end, and never let the disease break her spirit. Deborah’s smile and unique laugh will forever reside in the memory of those who knew her.
Born August 11, 1953, to Paul Violette and Barbara Ball, she was raised as a “military brat” by her mother and stepfather, Virgil Thornton. She was a mischievous child, constantly on the lookout for the next adventure. She once said she had always wanted to grow up to be Roy Rogers, not Dale Evans, because “boys always have more fun!” Deborah visited her grandmother frequently as a small child, and had many funny stories about her escapades while trying to round up and lasso her grandmother’s angry rooster.
Deborah grew up in numerous locales, but by and far, her favorite was Florida. She always considered that to be her home state, and was a proud Florida Gators fan. In April of 1972, she joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. After serving her country honorably for 6 years, Deborah left the Air Force in May of 1978.
After living in Kingsville, Texas, Mulvane, Kansas, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Deborah settled back in San Antonio, Texas with her three children in October of 1986. She made many, many good friends over the years, and never met a stranger. Her grandchildren meant the world to her, and she loved each and every one of them for their individuality. She relived her childhood fantasies through her grandchildren, and always told wonderfully elaborate stories to them when she visited.
Deborah is survived by her daughter, Krystal, and her husband, Thomas Rutherford, and their children, Joseph, Kaci, Riley & Christopher; her son, Seth Woodring, and his wife, Emily, and their children, Samuel, Johnathan, Michael & Edward; and her son, David Samuel Woodring, and his wife, Jamie, and their child, Jacob. She is also survived by her siblings, Joseph, Clay & Theresa Thornton, and their spouses and children. Deborah is predeceased by her parents and her youngest sister, Laurel.
Pastor Mike McDaniel and his wife Pat of Cowboy Fellowship at the Cross Church in Center Point, Texas, have been a wonderful blessing to not only our mother but to her family as well. We are forever indebted to Pastor Mike for the true friendship and generosity he has shown. Much gratitude goes to the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital and the Cancer Therapy & Research Center in San Antonio, Texas, and the staff at Hilltop Village Nursing Home and VistaCare Hospice in Kerrville, Texas, for the compassion and kindness shown to Deborah during her illness. Deborah’s angels-in-disguise, Guy and Bobbie Powell of Center Point, Texas, have become part of our family. Thank you to James and Denise Salter of Ingram, Texas, for the beautiful, handmade ossuary for our mother.
Deborah’s family will hold a private memorial. Funeral services will be held with full military honors on Friday, August 26th, 2011 at 10:15 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Family and friends that can attend the funeral service are more than welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Deborah’s name to the Cowboy Fellowship at the Cross Church, P.O. Box 1114, Boerne, Texas, 78006 or the American Cancer Society. To leave condolences for our family, please visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com and select the Obituaries tab.
Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne, Texas.