Deborah Jo Ling

Deborah Jo (Lambert) Ling was born in upstate New York on May 28, 1950—the youngest of three sisters. She was raised on a dairy farm, exploring every corner of the land: feeding cats, talking to crows, and learning more than she ever could in school. But she was also book-smart. Her middle name was a nod to Little Women, and Deborah Jo read ferociously her entire life. She earned several college degrees, and worked passionately in therapy and spiritual direction.

Deborah married her loyal husband, Stanley Thomas Ling on the little farm where she grew up, on June 15, 1974. They celebrated over 50 years of marriage. The couple had twins, Thomas Blake and Micah Elizabeth. They were the family of two girls and two boys: two pairs of blue eyes and two pairs of brown eyes.

Deborah passed away on April 17, 2025. But, as she might have preferred it put: she went to the Spirit in the Sky. Deborah loved music: BB King, the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder. She loved movies, and art, and her garden. She could talk to anyone on the planet.

Before the internet or apps or GPS, Deborah planned countless vacations out west for the family she loved. The Lings explored national and state parks together all over the country. They camped, rafted, rock climbed, and hiked. They rode horses, found swimming holes, and ate ice cream.

Deborah could identify flowers, drive a manual transmission, and grow tomatoes bigger than softballs. She will be remembered for her humor, her curiosity, and her ability to make everyone feel at home.

There will be a Service of Life on Sunday, June 1, 2025, 3pm at King Avenue United Methodist Church. 299 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201, 614-424-6050. If you have questions about the service, please contact Stan Ling at stanling331@yahoo.com, 614-315-3409.