Deborah Elizabeth Owen, 66, died Tuesday (Nov. 14, 2023) at home in Champaign. She was the fourth daughter of Margaret and George Earle Owen.
Deborah was born in Indianapolis on Nov. 17, 1956. She was a graduate of Indiana University and Midwestern Baptist Seminary.
She is survived by her loving husband, Kevin Frings, married Oct. 10, 1994; daughter, Abigail Frings; three sisters, Mary Devon O’Brien (Christopher Smith), Anne Fountain (Mike Conniff) and Peggy Clark (Dan Clark); one nephew and four nieces, Chris O’Brien (Sharon McManus), Devon O’Brien (Gene Haskins), Catherine Fountain (Brent James), Elizabeth Singer (Isaiah Singer) and Emily Clark (Jeff Bower); three great-nephews; a great-niece; and wonderful in-laws.
Deborah served the Disciples of Christ (DOC), United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), with churches in Indianapolis, Independence, Mo., Bement, Champaign, Danville, Hoopeston, Lockport, Monticello, Paxton, Rantoul, Urbana and Westville. Deborah was ordained on April 22, 1984, by the Region of Mid-America (DOC) at First Christian Church of Independence. She taught religious studies at
Parkland College for over 10 years. She was a multi-gallon blood donor.
Deborah was involved in community and denominational organizations and events where
she served, including the CROP Walk, Independence Ministerial Alliance (president), the Greater Kansas City region, the Christian Church of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), Religious Workers Association (president), Religious Leaders for Community Care (RLCC), Camp Walter Scott Camp Committee, Ministerial Alliance (corresponding secretary), PCUSA Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois, Martin Luther King Scholarship Committee, member of the National NAACP, member of the Carle Institutional Review Board, Human Relations Council, Executive Club of Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois Call Center.
She enjoyed traveling, swimming, reading, time with family and friends and telling people about God’s love for them. Her thanks go to those who sent cards and jokes throughout her cancer journey and the Carle oncology and hospice teams.
Her ashes will be buried during a private family service at First Christian Church (DOC) in Melbourne, Fla., where she and Kevin were married.