Tuesday, October 4th, 2016
Deborah Walterbusch
Deborah Ann Walterbusch, age 51, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away September 30, 2016, after a 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. As she wished, she died in the privacy of her home with her sister, Karen, and her best friend, Gina, at her side.
Deb was born July 11, 1965, in Coldwater, Ohio, the daughter of William and Kathyrn (Kohler) Walterbusch, who survive in Coldwater, Ohio.
She is also survived by her sister Karen (Mark) Schwanhausser of Pleasanton, CA, and nieces and nephew: Kate, Chrissie, Amy, and Michael; brothers Steve Walterbusch of Coldwater, OH; and Dave (Connie) Walterbusch of Chickasaw, OH, and nieces: Michelle Heckler and Stacy Walterbusch. Deb is also survived by her best friend since college, Gina Caldanaro of Raleigh, NC, and Gina's daughter, Ella (age 8).
To Ella, Deb was her "T" (her "auntie"). Theirs was a special relationship as they were aunt and niece, playmates, pirates, biking buddies, and friends. T was like another parent to Ella and will be deeply missed.
After Deb graduated Coldwater High School in 1984, she attended Bowling Green State University and earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology in 1988.
Deb moved to Raleigh, NC, in 1989. Deb worked a few years as manager for a gas station. In 1993, Deb began working for the Daly Seven, a relationship that lasted 22 years. The last 15 years with Daly Seven was spent at the Holiday Inn Express at the airport. Deb worked hard to ensure that guests and co-workers alike were treated with kindness and respect. She was awarded Employee of the Year three times.
Deb loved to travel and visited most major cities in the US and several overseas. Her first overseas trip was also her favorite - Rome, Italy.
As much as she loved to keep a clean house and an immaculate yard, it made Deb restless to stay home on the weekends. There is not a museum, festival, venue, or historic home or site she did not visit in NC or nearby states.
Deb loved to bike Raleigh's greenways and hike Raleigh's trails. She had a special love for waterfalls and has visited over two dozen in NC alone, but she especially loved Yosemite National Park in California for its waterfalls. She had hiked to the top of several of its falls with Karen and her family.
Deb also had a deep love for the ocean. She shared this deep love of the beach with Ella; last summer they taught each other how to boogie board. Deb also taught Ella how to garden, another of Deb's passions, and how to take care of the cats, birds, and hummingbirds.
Deb was a long-time season ticket holder for the NCSU Women's basketball team and she shared her love of women's basketball with Ella.
Per her request Deb will be cremated and her memorial services will be announced at a later date.
