Debra (Debbie) D. Linder

Debra D. Linder (Debbie), 51, of Indianapolis, IN passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2009 and joined her Lord in heaven.She was born on March 31, 1958 in Chicago, IL. Her birth parents were the late Henry and Willie H. Pittman and her adoptive parents were the late Ike and Deleane Milligan. She attended Lakeview High School and graduated in 1976. She married Thomas E. Linder, Jr. (Tommy) on February 27, 1998.She was an active member of Northside Baptist Church, Indianapolis where she sang in the choir and participated in numerous choir events and Christmas and Easter pageants over the years. After meeting Tommy in 1997, and a world wind courtship for a year, they married on February 27, 1998. They both shared a marriage rich in doing things for each other and for others and practiced �Pay It Forward� whenever they could. They both loved each other (more than words could express), holding hands (in public and private), vacations, cuddling, stealing kisses (in public and private) travel, telephone collectables (due to Debbie�s telecommunication back ground), Moose collectables (from Debbie�s new found family via Tommy in Maine) cooking gourmet meals, reading, yellow roses (Debbie�s favorite flower), church and church related events, gardening (indoors and out), music and singing, Christmas in Maine with her new mom, dad, sisters and family (Tommy�s parents, sisters, and family eating out (though not a much after they each had bariatric surgeries in 2003 and 2004), Southern Gospel Music & Quartets, beaches (and walks on the beach), and lighthouse. They both exemplified the saying �Life Is Good�, and they looked forward to growing old together. Tommy said he married a younger lady so she could take care of him when he was old. Debbie worked for the law firm of Isham, Lincoln & Beale in Chicago in the late 70�s and early 80�s as a telecommunications specialist/counselor (managed their telephone system). Maintaining her skills and training she left the law firm and went to work for the Chicago Sun-Times as their Telecommunications Analysts/Manager managing their entire telephone/communications system. She moved to Indianapolis in 1993 to work for Fairchild Communications as a Communication Customer Service Manager overseeing telecommunication and telephone systems for Fairchild clients. She accepted a job as a Business Communications Account Manager for Verizon in early 2008 where she oversaw Verizon client communications in Texas until being assigned to the Verizon client territory in California in early 2009. During her 35 plus year telecommunications career she received numerous certifications, awards, achievements and recognition. She was a member of BICSI, the foremost professional association supporting the telecommunications industry. Debbie is survived by her husband Thomas E. Linder, Jr., of Indianapolis, one son, J.C. of Indianapolis, two daughters, Ann and Emily of Lynchburg, VA, three sisters, Cricket Capps of Milan, TN, Brinda Hoffman of Jackson, TN, and Vickie Lester of Charlotte, NC, two brothers, Billy and Wesley Pittman of Chicago, IL, one deceased brother, Terry Pittman, and three grandchildren, Jayden, Maddox, and Myah of Indianapolis, and many friends who loved her dearly. After her marriage to Tommy in 1998, Debbie claimed Tommy�s family as her family and as such Debbie is also survived by her Maine father and mother, Thomas E. Sr. and Mona Linder of Wilton, ME, and three Maine sisters, Pamela and Clint Brooks of Jay, ME, Paula Linder of Orono, ME, and Charlotte (YaYa) and Mike Nyboe, of Round Pond, ME. Debbie considered her life richly blessed to have her Maine family adopt her as one of their own.Viewing as a �Celebration of Life� for Debbie will be held at 4:00 � 8:00 PM on Friday, April 24, 2009 and again at 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Northside Baptist Church, 3021 East 71st Street, Indianapolis, IN. Debbie�s �Celebration of Life� funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Northside Baptist Church. In addition to flowers, the family is accepting donations to Mee Maw�s Kitchen Scholarship Fund as a memorial to Debbie (checks should be made out to Northside Baptist Church, Debbie Linder Memorial benefiting Mee Maw�s Kitchen). Mee Maw�s Kitchen scholarship fund was founded by Mee Maw�s husband Frank Speckman to honor Mee Maw and to fund the needs for Northside Baptist Church Youth and allow them to attend the �Ultimate Youth Camp� each year. Debbie�s son J.C. was saved at �Ultimate Youth Camp� and both of Tommy�s daughters (Ann and Emily) have attended �Ultimate Youth Camp�. Debbie�s favorite bible verses include: � Be still and know that I am God� (Psalm 46:10), �I will praise Thee: For I am fearfully and wonderfully made� (Psalm 139:14 � a favorite verse from Tommy�s late grandmother), �And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called accor

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Debra (Debbie) D. Linder

March 31, 1958 - April 21, 2009