Debra N. Turbe Sokolowski Clapp of Deltona, Florida, went home to be with the Lord on March 22. She was 60 years old.
Debbie, as she was known by family and friends, was born on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on Jan. 13, 1954, to Leonard J. Turbe and Anatalia M. Magras Turbe. She graduated from St. Peter & Paul High School in 1972 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at Elmira College in New York. She came back home and taught history and economics at Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas. She later completed her master’s degree while teaching at Eudora Kean.
Debbie moved to Florida where she met the love of her life, Rodger C. Clapp, and later married on July 24, 1992. She continued teaching until her husband became gravely ill. She decided to give up her teaching career to stay home and care for him for more than 11 years. Debbie was preceded in death by her husband on Sept. 10, 2012.
She is survived by her son, Thomas A. Sokolowski II; stepson, Bryan C. Clapp; parents: Leonard J. Turbe and Anatalia M. Magras Turbe; sisters: Desiree T. Alexander and Sandra E. Turbe-Winston; brothers: Leonard J. Turbe Jr., Dale G. Turbe and Paul L. Turbe; sisters-in-law: Sheri Decker Turbe, Patty Kelley Turbe and Erma Lowry Turbe; and brothers-in-law: Michael W. Alexander and Michael L. Winston.
She is also survived by nephews and nieces: Stephen E. Turbe, Marcel W. Alexander, Theodore M. Alexander, Drew R. Alexander, Derik L. Winston and Jene` M. Winston; great nephews and great nieces: Jayvyn A. Santiago, Jacob A. Alexander, Marisol Alexander, Lily A. Winston and Nicolus A. Winston; as well as other family members: Florie and Harry Magras, Reynaldo and Gloria Turbe, Joe and Janet Turbe, Margareth Magras, Anne Turbe, Marie Danet, Cecilia Quetel and many cousins and friends too numerous to mention.
Her request to be cremated and have her ashes distributed on the Florida coast will be honored.