Deborah Marian Artman went home to be with Jesus on Friday evening, January 11, 2019. Debbie was born on August 9, 1922 in New Braunfels, Texas to Edmund Nolte and Wallie Alves Nolte. She was the youngest of four children.
Debbie was an independent, adventurous young woman in a time when women were typically more reserved. She always had a fascination with the military and wanted to be a career woman. Upon graduation from New Braunfels High School she worked at Randolph Airforce Base, but soon realized she wanted more. At the height of WWII, Debbie ventured with her best friend Evelyn Fischer to Washington D.C. where she got a job at the Pentagon as a statistician. It is here where she would meet her future husband, Col. George Artman, U.S. Army. They were happily married for 47 years.Her years at the Pentagon prepared her for life with her husband George. He was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq at the Embassy from 1961 - 1963. She absolutely loved it. Debbie was fascinated about living in another country and learning firsthand what it was like. Her real love though was hosting parties. There is certain “etiquette” to follow while George was at the Embassy, and she seemed to be born for the job. It fit her personality so well. It was her life.
Upon her husband’s retirement from Fort Sam Houston in 1968, she took what she learned about etiquette into her civilian life. She loved hosting dinner parties with her friends. She and George resided in Seguin, Texas from 1968-1993 and in 1993 they moved to the Army Residence Community (ARC) which is where she resided until her death.
She was very active in her community. While in Seguin, she was involved in Cross United Church of Christ Woman’s Group, the Shakespeare Club, where she served as President, and the Military Civilian Club. She was active in the PTA while her children were growing up, and was Girl Scout Cookie Chairman.
She took great pleasure in doing presentations about the family's experiences in the Middle East as well as showing the various artifacts they had collected in the desert while stationed in Baghdad. She also volunteered at the ARC as an ARC angel getting items for residents who no longer could drive.
Debbie was a great mom. She loved her daughters Pam and Rita and was always there for them, even if that meant driving up to Austin in the middle of the night. She enjoyed going to the beach with her family every year as they grew up and became mothers themselves.
She is survived by her daughters Pam Campos and Rita Nonmacher, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren who were the joy of her life in her later years.
She is preceded in death by her husband George Artman, parents Edmund Nolte and Wallie Nolte, siblings, David and Edward Nolte, Evelyn Nolte Walters, and grandson Nathan Alexander Nonmacher.
Visitation will be Saturday, January 19, 2019 from 1p-4p at Sunset Funeral Home. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Deborah’s name to the Greer Fund at the ARC which provides scholarships for employees and their children (Employee Education Fund) or a charity of your choice.
