Deborah “Debbie” Lee Ward, 61, passed away peacefully at her home, August 7, 2024, in Melbourne, Florida, under the loving care of her family after courageously battling brain cancer for the past 8 years. Debbie was born in Washington, D.C., to Ken and Erma MacDonald. She was raised in Maryland and moved her senior year of high school to her father’s home state of Maine and graduated from Oxford Hills High School. Debbie attended the University of Maine at Orono for 3 semesters and married her high school sweetheart (Gordon) and joined him on their first Air Force assignment at Loring Air Force Base, Maine. She earned her degree from the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

She began her immensely successful and fulfilling government and civil service career while residing in Northern Maine. In 1982, she started her career in the cashier’s cage at the Non-Commissioned Officer’s Club before moving on to the position of Non-Appropriated Funds Office Manager. She continued to work her way up as she moved on to Resource Advisor for the 42nd Strategic Hospital before becoming the Budget Officer for the Communication Squadron and Budget Officer for the 42nd Bombardment Wing. While still living in Northern Maine, Debbie and Gordon had 2 children. Due to a base closure, Debbie and her family moved to Melbourne, Florida, in 1994. She continued her civil service career as Budget Officer for the Air Force Technical Application Center (AFTAC), headquartered at Patrick Air Force Base. During Debbie’s 28-year career at AFTAC, she continued to serve as the Comptroller and Director of Plans and Programs. She retired earlier than expected in 2022 and was recognized for her outstanding contributions to AFTAC in 2024, being inducted into the prestigious Wall of Honor.
Debbie was an extraordinary loving wife and mother. She had an incredibly close bond with both of her children. It was very easy to love Debbie and smile at her contagious laugh. She loved amusement parks, movies, and collecting hippo figurines, but most importantly, being with her family. She was a strong and resilient person who had accepted the Lord, her Savior, into her heart early in life and was not afraid during her battle with brain cancer.
Debbie is survived by her husband (Gordon P. Ward, Jr.) of 43 years; her son (Philip Ward), Niceville, FL; her daughter (Nicole Ward), Boca Raton, FL; her father-in-law (Gordon “Phil” Ward), Lovell, ME; her mother (Erma MacDonald), Rumford, ME; her brother (Kenneth Macdonald III), Rumford, ME; and her sister (Terri Lundskow), Newalla, OK.