Debborah Lynn Wallace

Born on August 20, 1952, in Lorain, Ohio, Debborah lived a full and spirited life marked by service to her country and community, devotion to family and friends, and an enduring love of adventure. A United States Army veteran, business owner, and public servant, she brought determination, humor, and heart to the people and causes she loved.

Debborah was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon George and Carolyn Baich Wallace. She is survived by her beloved sister, Karen Armstrong, and leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and dear cousins, along with countless friends who became her extended family.

Her childhood was filled with memorable birthday parties, pony rides, sleepovers, and family vacations. The family traveled to Disneyland, throughout much of the United States, and to Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal. In Great Britain, they explored their Wallace family heritage and sites associated with William Wallace. Those experiences helped inspire Debborah’s lifelong curiosity about the world. Family remained deeply important to her, and her mother shared her home for 18 years.

Debborah began her college education at Muskingum before transferring to Bowling Green State University, where she flourished while studying psychology. She published a paper, worked in a research laboratory, and, much to her mother’s dismay, once brought home a white laboratory rat. Her enthusiasm for learning and willingness to follow her own path remained defining qualities throughout her life.

Debborah served in the United States Army, with assignments at Fort Knox and in Germany. At Fort Knox, she worked with soldiers in the stockade; during her three years in Germany, she worked primarily as a counselor and supervisor. She later returned to the Dayton area to be near her father during his illness.

She earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Dayton and put her education to work in local government. Her service with the City of Dayton included the Office of Management and Budget, work as a senior staff analyst, and work with the Civil Service Board.

Debborah faced life’s challenges with resilience and independence. She believed in her ability to begin again and build a meaningful life of her own. Among her treasured possessions was her father’s antique rolltop desk, which occupied a prominent place in her office and remained a cherished connection to her family.

Following her father’s death, Debborah pursued a career in insurance and financial services. After working as a representative and account executive, she founded Wallace Brokerage Services in February 1991. She provided insurance services and specialized in employee benefits for small and midsize businesses. Debborah enjoyed the variety each workday brought and valued the relationships she built with her clients, believing her work was a calling. In 2015, her business received the Outstanding Women-Owned Business of the Year Award from the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce.

Community service was woven throughout Debborah’s life. For 24 years, she volunteered in Montgomery County, including service on the Senior Citizens Center Board, Dayton Visual Arts Board, and YMCA Camp Kern Board. After moving to Beavercreek in 2001, she was appointed to the Zoning Appeals Board and Planning Commission.

Encouraged by community leaders, she ran for Beavercreek City Council and was elected in 2009 and again in 2013. She served as the city’s vice mayor for two years and later as a Beavercreek Township trustee. In her elected roles, Debborah advocated for veterans and residents with disabilities. She helped increase accessible parking spaces in new developments to more than 30 percent above Americans with Disabilities Act standards, turning her concern for others into practical improvements.

Her leadership extended to numerous civic and community organizations. She served as president of the Beavercreek Women’s League, on the boards of Miami Valley Military Affairs and the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce, and as chair of the Veterans Advisory Committee. She was a life member of Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as chaplain for VFW Post 2800. Through the JoAnn Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute, she formed lasting friendships with others who shared her dedication to public service.

Debborah’s contributions earned recognition including the Heart of the Community Award from Tony Hall and the Whalen Award for Community Leadership and Spirit through the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors–Dayton. She helped organize major community events, including a program on Dayton’s Courthouse Square that welcomed approximately 10,000 people, and contributed to the annual German festival at Carillon Park. She also devoted her time to scholarship fundraising, helping create opportunities for others.

In 2016, Debborah was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in recognition of her continued service to her community following her military career. She subsequently served for more than six years on the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation’s Executive Board. In April 2026, she was appointed chair of its selection committee, helping identify and honor veterans whose civilian contributions exemplified the foundation’s mission. Her work also supported recognition of inductees’ accomplishments and the permanent Hall of Fame exhibit at the Riffe Center in Columbus. She believed that veterans continued serving every day as leaders and advocates in their communities.

Debborah embraced adventure with the same enthusiasm she brought to her work. She trained for three years to run a marathon and became an avid scuba diver, exploring some of the world’s renowned dive destinations. She enjoyed whitewater rafting, skiing, glider flying, parasailing, hang gliding, and rock climbing, along with tennis, racquetball, and golf. Even while living with a long-term back injury, she continued seeking new experiences. She loved sailing and kept a picture of her dream boat on her office wall.

A devoted Cleveland Browns fan, Debborah never gave up hope for a championship. She was an excellent cook and enthusiastic hostess who delighted in preparing elaborate dinners and gathering people around her table. Holidays, Serbian Christmas celebrations, and time spent with loved ones created memories that her family and friends will continue to treasure.

Faith and spirituality were steady foundations in Debborah’s life. Raised attending Sunday school and church with her family, she continued developing her beliefs throughout adulthood. Her belief that “what goes around comes around” reflected the importance she placed on the words, choices, and actions a person offered to the world.

Debborah welcomed friendships across generations, cultures, and backgrounds. She once compared her life to a quilt—a patchwork of people, clients, friends, and experiences woven together. It was a fitting description of the varied and vibrant life she built.

Those closest to her will remember her quick wit, candid advice, strong opinions, and generous heart. Debborah spoke her mind and could deliver a loving lecture as readily as she could offer encouragement. She wanted the people she loved to visit, stay connected, and make time for one another. To some, she became a second mother, sharing holidays, Mother’s Day outings, affectionate teasing, and steadfast concern.

Debborah leaves behind a community strengthened by her service and many lives enriched by her friendship. Her memory will endure in the veterans she honored, the neighbors she advocated for, the opportunities she helped create, and the relationships she treasured.

A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm, followed by a celebration of life at 2:00pm at Tobias Funeral Home in Beavercreek.

Debborah Wallace was an advocate of the Beavercreek Township Fire Department Auxiliary. All donation are used to help fund supplies, equipment and events for the BTFD firefighters.

Donations can be made to Greene Giving and designate on the donation Beavercreek Township Fire Department Auxiliary. Without that specific designation it won't go into the BTFD Auxiliary account.

To donate, use this link: https://square.link/u/cbOXWb8y