Debbie Specht - Texas

Blog readers: Debbie is the wife of Bruce Specht a frequent contributor to the Heart of Glass blog , a great support of Blenko Glass. hjh


It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Debbie Specht, wife of Blenko collector Bruce Specht. Some of you may have met Debbie at the Progressive Dinner Party and some of you may have met Bruce and his daughter at the Aneita Fern event. Debbie lost her long and courageous battle with cancer on July 24, 2010:

. Debra Sue Specht of Vashti went to be with her Lord after a lengthy battle with Renal Cancer on July 24th 2010.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday July 31, 2010 at 1:30 P.M. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Dale Snyder officiating. Family visitation will follow in the church’s fellowship hall. In addition there will be a family gathering in October at the Specht homeplace in Vashti. Further details of that gathering will be announced at a later date.

Debbie was born Debra Sue Walton on August 19, 1962 in Dallas, Texas. She attended the Arts Magnet School at Booker T. Washington in Dallas, Texas pursuing interests in dance and theatre. Debbie later attended Junior College at Brookhaven in Farmers Branch, Texas. She was employed by various veterinary specialty services in Dallas, Texas specializing in treatment of animal cancers. She completed her advanced degrees in Early Childhood Education at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. Debbie received her Bachelor, Masters and Specialist Degrees and graduated with honors. During this time she was also employed as a nighttime 911 operator by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
In the late 70’s and early 80’s Debbie attended Camp Juliette Low in Cloudland, Georgia as a camper and eventually as a counselor. She met her future husband, Bruce, at the camp who was serving as caretaker. They were reunited at a pre-camp reunion in 1990 and were married on January 11, 1991 in Milledgeville Georgia. Debbie and family would relocate to the Vashti Community in May 2001. Debbie was very active in her church and community. She took part in the rewriting of the Vashti History Book published in 2003. She assisted Frieda Duke in writing the “Visiting in Vashti” community column that appears in the Clay County Leader, Bowie News and The Shopper locally. She took over full time responsibility for writing the column after Frieda’s death. Debbie was an active member of the Vashti Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. She served in several capacities at her church, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Wichita Falls. Debbie was church congregational secretary from 2004-08, and a substitute Sunday school teacher. She served as director of the Sonshine Daycare Center in 2008.
Debbie will be known by her friends as a woman who was passionate about nature, God’s creatures, children and education. She dedicated much of her life as a caretaker of these principles.
Debbie is survived by her husband Bruce, daughters Katie and Kayla of Vashti, Texas, father, Kenneth Walton of Farmers Branch, Texas, mother, Beverly Blackwood of Denison, Texas, sisters Jodi Donohue of Cherokee, Texas and Leah Teachout of Bokeelia Florida along with 5 nieces and 4 nephews.

Memorials may be made to Camp Juliette Low of Cloudland Georgia, Hospice of Wichita Falls, or to the Scholarship fund at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.