Deborah Lynn Tihen
Having lived a kind, generous, adventurous and fulfilling life, Deborah Burton Tihen departed from this world on September 19th, 2024. Debbie was born on July 26, 1954, in South Bend Indiana. After graduating from Jackson High School, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech pathology from Indiana University.
She married Larry Tihen in 1980 and moved to Ft. Myers, Florida. Debbie was employed by the Lee County School District as a Speech Pathologist, and later as the Administrator of the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Center, identifying and placing preschoolers with special needs into appropriate Exceptional Student Education programs in Lee and Collier County schools. Debbie’s exceptional work was widely recognized. She was honored to receive English Teacher of the Year, Leadership Lee County, appointment to the Florida League of Teachers, and the Golden Apple Teacher Award. After retiring in 2011, Debbie was a volunteer tutor for children with reading difficulties and conducted multiple reading in-services in multiple states.
Debbie’s adventurous spirit led her and Larry to many countries to experience various cultures. Throughout their travels, Debbie experienced her greatest pleasure interacting and learning from the people she met. She attempted to learn some of the language of each country she visited in an effort to facilitate greater communication.
Throughout her life, Debbie exhibited the extraordinary talent of always seeing the good in each person. Debbie was blessed with many friends and treasured each and every one. She looked forward to her monthly dinner with the Girls group, Book Club, Temple Beth-El, her tennis buddies, and the countless friendships she developed during her career.
Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Barry and Ilene Burton. She is survived by her husband Larry Tihen, brother Jim Burton (Barbara), aunt and uncle Robert and Kathy Burton, sisters-in-law Jo Ann Trupo, Claudia Madigan, Martha Cook and Marilee Sarchet (David), as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins, all of whom she loved and was loved by.
Services for Debbie will be held Monday, September 23, 2024, at Prairie Rose Funeral Home Chapel in Harper, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, 2266 2nd Street, Ft. Myers, Florida 33901.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary, Wichita, Kansas.
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Larry, I am so sorry! You and Debbie were perfect together! I learned so much following Debbie’s lead, when she came in taught my kindergartners LIPs and phonological awareness! What a pleasure it was to facilitate “Intensive Reading Strategies for Struggling Readers” with her. I still have my binder. In fact it was always one of my go to resources when I helped other teachers. Im so thankful I met her! She made a real difference in my career!
My sympathies,
Tracey Zenoniani
Debbie was such a beautiful, loving person. Her smile lit up the room and she made you feel like you were the only person in the room when she talked with you. Although I didn’t see you all often, when getting together it was always a good time. Smiles and laughter…and oh the stories! May she rest in peace.
Larry, we are so sorry for the loss of your precious wife, Debbie. What a joy it was to have known Debbie. She was such a sweet, loving, and friendly person. No words can express how much she will be missed. We all loved her. May Our loving Father give you comfort. Love, Francie and Roy
Larry, I am so sorry for your loss. I believe with my whole heart that Debbie’s time on this earth left all of us a bit richer. Savana, who Debbie taught to read, is a successful high school student now with enough confidence to attend her first homecoming dance. She came to you all not knowing the alphabet. I’ll be forever grateful to Debbie for her work and influence at Tropic Isles. She was determined that somewhat scruffy and poor children could learn at high levels. She sought a grant to prove that with background knowledge, vocabulary and problem skills even the unlikely could be labeled gifted. She succeeded! A large number of the kids she worked with ended her program meeting the criteria for a gifted education. Debbie had a great influence on me, her kids, her friends and likely just about anyone she encountered. She was smart and gentle yet determined. Her presence has left a mark.
I worked with Debbie over the years and remember her as a very loving and giving person. She will be remembered for all of the love she gave to Oliver she served 💕
Dr. Tihen and family, I’m so sorry for your loss. Debbie was the best boss and kindest person ever. I learned from her grace, patience, generosity every day I shared with her at FDLRS. She supported my ideas to share a program children learning language with families and later, with the teachers and therapists in Lee and Collier counties. Above all, she & Larry blessed me with the ability to balance work with my two children. My deepest condolences and all my love go out to you now in this time of grieving.
Dear Larry
I was saddened to hear of Debbie’s passing. She was such a kind, smart, caring person. I’ll always cherish the time we spent together when we were both going through a difficult period. We went on weekly excursions to such places as Six Mile Cypress, walked the dilapidated Caloosa Nature Center boardwalk and even walked over the Ft. Myers bridge, among other places. She was a blessing.
Barbara Koehler