Deborah "Debby" Kay Dunbar

Deborah (“Debby”) Kay Dunbar was summoned to be with her Savior from her home in Auburn, NY in the early morning hours of February 6, 2025. Her family and friends are shocked and devastated by her unexpected departure at the age of 74, but confident in the knowledge that she is happy in Heaven having believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ for the complete forgiveness of her sins and assurance of eternal life.

Debby (only ever with a “y”) was born to Bill and Mary Woodward in Hornell, NY on August 23, 1950. Her father was a missionary pastor and they moved frequently throughout her childhood to start churches in various states —her favorite childhood memories being in South Haven, MI. She was the oldest of nine children and assisted her mother in the care of her younger siblings. Debby was a consummate mother and would have straightened the tie of the President of the United States without a second thought. Her caregiving nature was perfectly suited to the nursing career she chose, and her time as an LPN gave her great pleasure.

In Rochester, NY, Debby met her loving husband of 52 years, David Dunbar, and they were married on August 13, 1972, in her father’s church. Together, they got Dave through Bible college and immediately moved to Green Bay, WI, where they worked with friends to start First Bible Baptist Church. Debby faithfully served with her husband in that ministry as a true help to their family, friends, and church. She gave birth to four boys, Joel, Jonathan, Jared and Jason, and lovingly nurtured her handicapped second-born to personal independence and ability. From the time her first child was born, Debby quit her job as an LPN and became a devoted homemaker for her family. She was immensely pleased to see her three sons grow up and go into full-time ministry, but her faithfulness as a godly mother is what her sons remember the most. The childhood of her children was earmarked by mom, in her seat in the living room each morning without fail, reading her Bible, followed by prayer on her knees.

After fourteen and a half years, the family moved back to New York to a small church in Yorkshire where Debby finally got her girl — Joy. In 1991, David took the pastorate of Freedom Baptist Church in Auburn, NY, where they served together with love toward the people there and the community for 33 years. Debby was known for her hospitality and generosity in her home and wherever she traveled. Her love language was feeding people delicious food and if you sat at her table she wanted to see you eat more. More Belgian waffles, more Tollhouse pie, more homemade pizza…just eat more!  She delighted in homemade meals for the weary traveler and ferreting out their tiniest likes, dislikes, allergies and, “What haven’t you had in a long time?”

Known for her hearing loss since birth, Debby retained a spirit of innocence and naivety that often frustrated her, but was the greatest blessing in the person that she was to others. Guileless and free from malice, she wanted to know everything about you, but never to gossip. Every opinion was a strong one and given with abandon, yet she ungrudgingly accepted your response and supported you anyway. She was generous and loved to give gifts and send cards to everyone in her life, keeping track of all birthdays and anniversaries in a special book. A hopeless romantic, she relished Hallmark movies and light romance novels, but her greatest loves were always the Lord Jesus Christ, her husband, family, and church — in that order!

Debby loved everyone she met, but her family above all others. Her children were her greatest achievement and she was so pleased to tell anyone and everyone of their lives and accomplishments. The grandchildren they gave her were the light of her life and the blessing of her old age. Although conned into allowing a four-legged, furry “grandchild” into her home, she even loved Max the cattle dog.

Debby was met in Heaven by her father G. William Woodward, mother Mary (Gaus) Woodward, and five grandchildren she never had the chance to meet. She is survived by her loving husband David Dunbar; her children, Joel (Tina) Dunbar, Jonathan Dunbar, Jared (Kristen) Dunbar, Jason (Elizabeth) Dunbar, and Joy Dunbar; and her grandchildren Silas, Seth, Carson, Caelyn, Colin, Carmyn, William, and Duncan.

Debby is also survived by her sisters, Rebekah (Woodward) Johnson, Joanna (Woodward) Macabee, Ruth (Woodward) Congdon, Mary Jane (Woodward) Henderson, Elizabeth (Woodward) Nadalen; and brothers, John Woodward, Daniel Woodward, and James Woodward, and her many, loving nieces and nephews.

Services in honor and memory of Debby Dunbar will be held at Freedom Baptist Church in Auburn, NY on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Calling hours will be from 10:00am-12:30pm, and the funeral service will begin at 1:00pm. Immediately following, the graveside committal will take place at Soule Cemetery in Sennett, with a meal at the church afterward to which all are invited.

Donations in honor of Debby can be made to Freedom Baptist Church for the continued care of her handicapped son, Jonathan.

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