Deborah Ann Rigby

Deborah Ann Rigby of Stowe, VT passed away on September 22, 2025 at the age of 83.
She was born in 1942 to Helen and Erwin Casterline, in Battle Creek Michigan, where she also grew up and attended school. After high school, she briefly lived in Lansing, MI, where she met her husband, George Rigby, when they worked together at a restaurant called The Boom Boom Room. Shortly after marrying in 1965, they visited a Culinary Institute classmate of George's in Montgomery Center VT. They fell in love with Vermont and began looking for a home and restaurant to buy. They found the Hob Knob Inn, which they owned and operated together for nearly 38 years: George as chef extraordinaire, and Debbie as, well everything else! Hostess, Innkeeper, head of personnel, CFO, and Chief Boss Lady, Debbie wore many hats. Together, George and Debbie hosted not only Inn guests, but decades of Thanksgiving feasts for their large family and friends. (The record number for family dinner was 38!)
After selling the Hob Knob in 2003, Debbie worked for the Stowe Tennis Club. She valued and practiced physical fitness, biking regularly on the Lamoille Valley rail trail, and continued to "bike" on her indoor cycle. Debbie was also a Jeopardy enthusiast and consummate vocabulary artist, whipping through the New York Times crossword puzzle daily. She was a big reader and had a book underway at all times.
One of Debbie's greatest joys was her flower gardens. Many early evenings in the summer were spent doing the "Posy Stroll". Many friends and family members have perennials around their home that originated under the care of Debbie's green thumb. The Stowe Free Library was the recipient of fresh flowers from Debbie's garden on a regular basis. She delighted in her afternoon tea on the deck in the sunshine with a good book, and in the company of her dogs, the birds, and other wildlife.
Debbie is survived by her brothers, William Casterline of Stowe VT, and Thomas Casterline (Lou Ann) of Cascade, Montana, her sister, Susan Ciotti, of Berwick, ME, 13 nieces and nephews, including Aaron and Adam Larow, and Maggie Casterline to whom she was particularly close, and also by special friend and almost-daughter, Dale Porter, of North Hyde Park, VT. She was predeceased by her husband, George, her son, Stephen, daughter Catherine, and brothers Donald and Willard Casterline.
Services will be planned in the near future. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deborah, please visit our floral store.