Deborah Gates Ford, age 64, of Wilmington, died Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. She was born August 7, 1954 in Manchester, New Hampshire the daughter of the late William and Jane Whitaker Ford. Deborah was a very spiritual person who loved nature. Sailing, nature walks, and swimming were among her many interests. She had a passion for reading and had an extensive library. Deborah was a 1981 Graduate of Wilmington College, who later became and Adjunct Professor of Black and White Photography at Wilmington College. She is survived by her husband Kenneth R. Gilfillan O.D.; two sisters, Sherry (Don) Levesque of Fairfield, Iowa, and Nancy Huckins of Louden, New Hampshire; nephew Jeremy Huckins of New Hampshire; and many friends. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother-in-law Herb Huckins. Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 27, 2019 at Brown Funeral Home, Wilmington. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Maple Grove Cemetery in Chesterville, Ohio at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations are directed to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Illinois 60674. For more information or to sign our on-line register, please visit www.arehart-brown.com or see our Facebook page, Brown Funeral Home.
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