Deborah Jane Deutsch's Obituary
Deborah Jane Deutsch passed away at home on December 23, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter K Deutsch, parents, Richard Albert Sr. and Eileen Markham, and her brother, George Albert Markham (Luz). She is survived by her son, Adam K. Deutsch (Austin, Texas); a brother, Richard A. Markham, Jr (Debra), Germantown, TN and several nieces and nephews.
Debbie was born in Oconto, Wisconsin on March 15,1947. Growing up she lived in many places due to her father’s military service in the U.S. Navy, including Newfoundland, Canada, Washington, D.C., Great Lakes, Illinois; Sasebo, Japan; and finally, Millington, Tennessee, where she graduated from high school. She attended Memphis State University for two years before moving to New York City to become a flight attendant with Pan Am Airlines. It was there that she met her future husband, Peter K. Deutsch. They married in 1970 and shared nearly 50 years together until Peter’s passing in 2019.
Debbie later earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology from C. W. Post College on Long Island, New York. Her professional career spanned several decades, beginning in the New York metropolitan area where she worked for Citibank for 20 years. She then moved to Plano, Texas and worked for JC Penney and later moved to South Florida. Debbie joined Carnival Cruise Lines, where she served as Manager of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) until her retirement in 2014 while living in Miramar, FL.
In 2020 she moved to Germantown, TN to live with her brother Richard and his wife, Debra.
Debbie was always the primary breadwinner and took great pride in her work. She was a true MS Access expert, building numerous departmental applications that managed the entire payroll system at Carnival—a remarkable achievement that showcased her talent and dedication.
Outside of work, Debbie and Peter maintained lifelong friendships with many of their early New York City friends. Debbie loved traveling, especially cruising with Peter, and believed in enjoying life to the fullest. She often said, “Take as many vacations as you can and savor every moment.”
Debbie will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, her professional excellence, and the love she shared with family and friends.
As her younger brother, I will always cherish the memory of the months she spent at home after college before moving to New York City. She took time to play board games with me and my friends, creating moments I'll always remember. I missed her deeply when she moved away, and aside from vacations, we rarely had long visits until she came to live with us for her final five years. Those years were a gift, and she will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Funeral services will be held at Memorial Park near 240 and Poplar. Visitation is a 1PM and memorial service at 2PM January 31, 2026
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