Deborah S. Ricks

Debby Ricks was born Deborah Ann Palmer Savage in Baltimore, Maryland to Walter and Cornelia Savage in 1933. She grew up in the Cherrydale neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia and attended W-L high school where she cheerleaded for among others, her future husband Jay Ricks. She loved her role as a second Mom to her little sister Susan, who was 11 years younger. When their parents moved to Berlin, Maryland to open their own drugstore, Debby was entered into and won the Miss DelMarVa pageant. She was the "chicken queen" and the Kappa Alpha Rose and for her entire life people commented on her beautiful smile.

Jay was the love of Debby's life. The two attended the University of Maryland and, after they married, when he was sent to Japan by the Air Force, Debby followed. Debby taught English while there and when the two returned to Virginia, while Jay attended law school, Debby worked at the Pentagon. But her education and passion were in interior design, which led her to work at the spectacular Woodward and Lothrop home department and to design interiors for many friends and family.

Debby and Jay had three children: Doug, Steve, and Catherine, and when they took 11 year old Doug for a vacation without the younger two, the family tradition of an "11 year old" trip was born. While her children's trips were local weekends like grass skiing at Bryce Mountain, the notion expanded into fabulous vacations with their grandchildren to Italy, Spain, Brazil, Costa Rica, and on and on. Debby loved travel so much that she went around the world, twice! Debby painted beautifully and among her children's cherished possessions are her paintings of scenes from her great adventures in travel.

Debby volunteered with the Junior League and worked in the polls on elections day and enjoyed tennis and her many friends. She was an avid reader and in a book club that started when her children were in elementary school and still meets to this day. In their later years, Debby and Jay moved to Florida but returned to Arlington in the summer and had the best of both worlds. Everywhere she went, including her favorite breakfast spot, the Metro Diner, and the restaurant at Clam Pass, Debby would enjoy a Coca- Cola. After Jay's death in 2021 and as her mobility decreased, Debby still found joy – in her beautiful home or riding in her little convertible that she loved or just sitting with her face in the sun – and especially in the company of her children and grandchildren.

Debby died Monday, September 29, 2025, in her bed at home after a brief period of steep decline in health. She is survived by her sister Susan Mariner (Bill), her brother-in-law Al Ricks (Agneta), her children Doug Ricks (Susan Ashcom), Steve Ricks (Heather), and Catherine Piwowarski (Matt) as well as her grandchildren Wilson Ricks, Annabel Ricks, Angus Ricks, Allison Ricks, Maxwell Ricks, Trevi Ricks, Emily Piwowarski, and, Matthew Piwowarski.

Friends and family are invited to join us for a celebration of her life at the 3411 Event Center at Columbia Gardens Cemetery, 3411 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 3 p.m.