Deborah Lynn Withrow

With heavy hearts yet rejoicing with her, we announce Deborah (Deb) Lynn Withrow, went to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, January 11, 2025. Born 09/06/1961 in Charleston, West Virginia, to Gracie (Sullivan) Withrow and Teddy Withrow. Her biological father was Philip Asseff. Deb loved her work as a CPA. This was going to be the first year that she was not going to be able to do anyone's taxes and she knew it. Her health just would not let her. She did so enjoy all of her clients and her friends and her relatives. She kept saying “this is no way to live. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired.” She often said that she thought her dialysis was a gift to her because she would be able to say when it was enough. She had planned to stop her dialysis at the end of February 2025 to end all of her pain and her terrible life or lack of life, as she would say, sometime in March. However, on Saturday night while in hospice care, she said, “well I guess the joke is on me. He's telling me that He knows better and I am not going to determine when I go, He will.” That night she kept saying, “I don’t feel sick, I don’t feel sick enough to die. I'm not hurting.” This was due to the help of hospice and medications. She kept saying, “I'm ready to go up. I'm just a little afraid because I don't know what it's going to feel like through the transition, but I do know I'm not sick enough to die.” She went peacefully as she desired.

After living in West Virginia, her family moved to Columbus. Her mother Gracie sang with a group, called The Paul Caldwell Singers, traveling all around. Her dad worked for the barges periodically. While her mother traveled, she lived with her aunt Thelma who they called big aunt Thelma. There was another aunt called little aunt Thelma (her favorite) who Debbie loved immensely. As time passed, Gracie felt Deb needed a stricter hand at home, so she quit the group and stayed at home with Deb. Later, as it turned out, Gracie and Deb both started working at Rite Aid/Drug World. This was Deb’s first job.

It was at an early age Deb took a more than friend interest in girls. At that point she knew that it was girls she liked and was not attracted to boys. She had several girlfriends before she met the one who she thought she wanted to be with. This was Bridget Asher. They were together on and off for quite a while. After Bridget, Deb met several other short-term people until she met the love of her life, Marsha Heim. They too had some on and off times. She met April Waters and Laura Geralds both of whom she loved. She was back with Marsha Heim again, forever. Between all of their years together it was nearly 40 years. She and Marsha lived together at Deb’s house on Wiltshire, which they called the old old house. They then built a home on Snow Creek Drive in Grove City that they had hoped would be their forever home. However, over the last year (July 2024), they moved into the brand-new villas, a senior living community by Traditions in Grove City. This community was built at the old racetrack, Beulah Park.

Deb went to college on what she called the 11-year plan. She started at The Ohio State University; followed by Columbus State Community College. She finished her studies at Franklin University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Deb worked for the state of Ohio taxation department. She worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She was also employed by Ross Laboratories for 16 years. After leaving Ross, she and Marsha opened the Sanctuary Tea Room in Grove City. They had the time of their lives with this venture. It took less than a year to get it set up and ready to go. They had a commercial kitchen, a beautiful gift shop and a large meeting room.

After getting her degree at Franklin University she continued her studies to gain her CPA credentials. With her CPA, she started doing taxes. She worked at several different tax offices and then started her own business in Worthington, Ohio sharing an office with Randall Grace, CPA. She loved doing her tax work. This year was going to be the first year that she was not going to be able to do anyone's taxes. She was just getting ready to send out letters to friends, clients, and family members, the few that she had done last year; to inform them she was unable to do them this year. Her health just would not let her. She so enjoyed all of her clients and her friends her relatives. She did love all of you. Everyone who is here, know you were her very favorite people.

Deb was preceded in death by: both sets of grandparents, her father Philip Asseff, her sister-in-law, Lynda Sue Herzog Pope, brother-in-law, Lewis Pope, brother-in-law John Graham, sister-in-law Martha Graham, sister-in-law Nancy Burns, father-in-law Kenneth Randolph Graham, mother-in-law Nellie Graham. Also preceding her was her first and beloved dog, Moses, rescued from out in the wilderness of Utah.

Deb is survived by: her wife, Marsha Heim, her mother Gracie, her children: Michael (Ashley) Stiffler, Christopher Stiffler, her grandchildren: Christian Stiffler & Alyssa Ferree, Caden Stiffler, Gage Stiffler, Gavin Stiffler, sisters: Dani Asseff (Christian Toney), Kim Asseff (Paul White), nephew: Alex White and brother, Philip Asseff, niece Kaelyn Asseff and other mother Mary Asseff. Sister-in-law Janet (Hansel) Rhodes, nieces: Tyna Baugess, Tiffany Rhodes, nephews: Samuel (Cecilia) Hall and Steven (Danielle) Graham, grand-nephews: LaShawn Baugess, Levi Hall, Luke Hall, and grand-nieces: Aliyah Graham, Keira Graham.

Arrangements made by Schoedinger Funeral Home – Grove City, located at 4242 Hoover Rd. Calling hours will be Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 12-3 pm. Service will begin promptly at 3:00pm. www.schoedinger.com

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Speak for the Unspoken at www.speakfortheunspoken.com or adopt a pet from them in Deborah’s name.