Debby Seibert Ruffin

I enjoyed my business career having opportunities I never would have thought possible; however, I am enjoying every second of retirement. To keep in touch with business, I still do some consulting work. The rest of the time is spent doing whatever I decide for that day. I still spend a great deal of time working on genealogy - a hobby since I was in my 20's, and antiquing. I have had a blessed life.

As you may remember, my mom (as most of you knew her-"Madge") died of cancer of colon when I was 20, and my dad ("Beans") died at the age of 83 from Alzheimer's during the years we were transferred back to Texas. My only brother and sibling, Guy, died from lung and bone cancer which broke my heart! However, we had some great travels together all over the world and US. In fact, we were fly fishing in Colorado four months before he died with none of us realizing he was ill, not even him.

I married originally Jerry Wauson from Seminole, who played football at TCU. After 17 years of marriage, we decided to pursue different lives. I am married to a wonderful man from Fort Worth, Texas. We worked together for the FDIC in Baton Rouge, Kansas City and Washington, DC., and were married at the Custis-Lee Mansion in Washington. We first lived in Alexandria, Va, and then Thom’s job took us to Texas where we lived in Waxahachie for 7 years prior to being transferred back to Washington where we lived in Fairfax and later Winchester, Va. a very historic town organized in 1752 in the Shenandoah Valley. Winchester, is about 45 minutes away from Dulles Airport, and yet an entire world away. We love the history, mountains, trees and water...I even enjoy the snow! The town has the survey office of George Washington and the headquarters of Stonewall Jackson. It is a great area to visit!

This year, Thom retired and we made the decision to downsize and are in the process of building a new home in a 55+ community in White Post, Va. immediately outside of Winchester. In 1760, Gen. George Washington drove a white directional post in the ground, and the small community that developed was named “White Post”, and the National Historic Site post continues to be maintained! We should move into our new home in a mid-September this year. We hope to spend many happy years in this home!

My parents were Denver City pioneers having moved there in 1939. Having lived in Denver City in the old Shell Camp all of my life, I grew up with almost everyone we graduated with. Although I left for Texas Tech in January 1969 and missed graduation, I will always cherish the fact that I grew up in a small, West Texas town of Denver City with such wonderful friends and parents of friends. There, the "Village" did raise each of us! I am only sorry our children and grandchildren cannot know the freedoms we enjoyed walking and riding our bikes in the pastures and across town to meet friends without fear! It is a wonderful place to be from!!!