Deborah N. McIntosh

1947 - 2018

Deborah N. McIntosh

November 8, 1947 - November 30, 2018

Durham

Deborah Norvell McIntosh died Friday morning after a long and courageous battle with a rare neurological disease (corticobasal ganglionic degeneration). Without complaining, she showed grace, strength, and dignity in the face of this hardship. She died peacefully at home with her family at her side.

Debbie was born in Baltimore, MD, to William and Deborah Norvell. She attended Cranbrook elementary school in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and junior and senior high school in River Hills, WI. Debbie attended the University of Rochester (NY) where she met Thomas McIntosh who would become her husband of 50 years. Debbie and Tom moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where their daughter Carol and son Mark were both born. Their youngest child, Craig was born in Durham, NC, where Tom still teaches at Duke University. As a child, Debbie and her family spent every summer on beautiful Lake Superior in Marquette, MI. With her sisters and cousins Debbie loved family traditions such as round singing and beach campfires. She later shared this love of Marquette with her own children and grandchildren.

Debbie was devoted to her family and proud of her three children, their spouses, and her six grandchildren. She was an active member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church where at various times she sang in the choir, was head of the Vestry, and head of the Pastoral Care Committee. She taught preschool at First Baptist Church and later Temple Baptist Church, where she helped her students develop interpersonal skills. In addition, for many years she drove for Meals on Wheels.

Debbie's other activities included swimming, tennis, quilting, and sewing. She was an expert seamstress who over the years made clothes for her children and grandchildren, as well as for various charities. Debbie never wanted attention but invested her time, energy, and spirit in helping others. She was a modest, intelligent, caring, and hardworking person who taught and led by example - both in raising her kids and with her pre-school class.

Debbie is survived by her husband Tom; daughter Carol and her husband Jamie Barnhill and their children Shelby and Cole; son Mark and his wife Maggie McIntosh and their children Kendall and Brynn; and son Craig and his wife Ginger McIntosh and their daughters Logan and Avery.

A Memorial Service for Debbie will be held at 2 PM Saturday, December 8, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 1737 Hillandale Road in Durham.

In lieu of flowers please make contributions in Debbie's name to Meals on Wheels Durham or St. Luke's Episcopal Church.