Born in Fort Sill, Okla., she was a daughter of Anna Lee Young of Kerrville, Texas, and the late Turnace Brown and step-daughter of the late Ted Young. She is survived by her husband, John J. Ford; two sisters, Nancy Archibald of Tulsa, Okla., Beth McDowell of Austin, Texas; and a brother, Duane Wright of Panama.

Deborah moved to Ocean City three years ago from the Washington area. She was a member of the Panama Canal Society, the Army Comptrollers Association and St. Mary's Star-of-the-Sea Catholic Chruch. She lived with her family in the Panama Canal Zone where she attended the Panama Canal Schools Division schools and graduated from the Panama Canal College. She subsequently worked for the Army in Panama, providing recreational services for soldiers and their families. Also, involved in the operation "Just Cause" in Panama during 1989 and 1991 and followed on nation building efforts. She met and married her husband there. Following her husband's career move to Washington in 1980, she continued working in Army financial operations until resigning to follow her husband into retirement on the Eastern Shore in 1995. In this area, she was employed by the Ocean City Service Company.

A Mass of Christian burial was held Thursday at 11a.m. at St. Mary's Star-of- the-Sea Catholic Church in Ocean City. Officiating was Rev. Michael F. Ford, S.J., Deborah's brother-in-law.

Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Mary' Star-of-the-Sea Catholic Church, 302 S. Baltimore Ave., Ocean City, Md. 21842. Arrangements were handled by Ullrich Funeral Home in Berlin.