Deborah J. “Debby” Vandenberg, (69) of Sherwood, Arkansas passed from this life on November 20, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert W. Vandenberg Jr.  

Debby was born on April 11, 1951, in Ft. Hood, Texas, the daughter of the late Clarice and Donald Boyce Matthews.  She had two loving sisters.

She was raised in Jacksonville, Arkansas and eventually settled to raise her family in nearby Sherwood.  Debby was a hard worker, who spent most of her professional career working in a public facing role in the Little Rock Office of the Internal Revenue Service.  After retirement, she spent time traveling, volunteering for several organizations, spending time with kids and grandkids, and loyally caring for her husband throughout his long-term illness.  

Debby had a funny and outgoing personality and was very loyal and loving to family and friends, of which there were many.  She and her husband Bob travelled the country with their car club friends for many years to showcase their classic 1957 Ford Custom Hot Rod.  During this time, she was part of a team that created an annual car show dedicated to veterans that is still being held every year at the North Little Rock Veteran’s Hospital.  She was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.  All of Debby’s family and friends knew they could call her at any time to get the right words, advice, laugh, or hugs when needed.  She was a caregiver in every respect, and to everyone.  When her husband developed health issues later in life, she carried the burden for his care and did so without hesitation.  She was an active volunteer for various veteran’s organizations, and recently became the Little Rock representative for the national organization known as Soldiers’ Angels, with the stated mission to provide aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families.  

She is survived by daughters, Kim Dovish (Chuck) and Alicia Russell (Mark); sons, Donnie Matthews (Laura) and Jeff Vandenberg (Misty); sisters, Donna Moore (Dick) and Barbara Webb; 14 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren, and her beloved nieces and nephews.  

A gathering of friends and family will be held, in her memory, Tuesday, November 24, 2020 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Smith Sherwood Funeral Home (7700 Hwy 107). For those unable to attend, it will be streamed live on the Smith Sherwood Funeral Home Facebook page.  Interment will be held at a later date at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made, in her name, to Central Arkansas Veterans Health System Voluntary Services or www.soldiersangels.org. 

AR Covid-19 Directives: Mask and social distancing required.