Deborah Jane Sedillo

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Deborah Jane Sedillo, who peacefully went to be with the Lord on July 29, 2025. She was 69 years old.

Deborah was born on July 20, 1956, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Donald Polk and Nancy Pickering (Lamberson). As a child, Deborah’s life was shaped by her father’s Navy service, which meant she and her family moved frequently. They lived in various parts of the country, including Rhode Island and New Jersey, before ultimately settling in Kokomo, Indiana. Deborah would spend her summers visiting with her father at his naval bases in Newfoundland, Canada at the Naval Station Argentia, and in California at the Alameda Naval Air Station. Deborah graduated from Taylor High School in 1974. In 1975, Deborah met Marc Winner. The couple married and began their life together, welcoming their first child, Jilinda Johnson (Winner) in 1980. They later divorced in 1982 but co-parented over the years and remain very good friends to this day.

While living near Grissom Air Force Base, Deborah met Michael Sedillo, who was serving in the Air Force at the time. The couple married, welcoming their son, Joshua Sedillo, and daughter, Melissa Leutwyler (Sedillo). The Sedillo family continued to travel and grow, moving to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, where Deborah devoted herself to her children's lives. She was a dedicated room mom, tirelessly organizing school events and ensuring that each celebration was special for her kids. Her holiday parties, complete with fun games and memorable activities, became cherished traditions for the family.

After relocating to Dayton, Ohio at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 1999, Deborah continued her legacy of devotion. She took on the role of team mom for Joshua’s sports teams and was a proud and supportive dance mom for Melissa. In every stage of life, Deborah gave her love and energy to her family, and later became a devoted grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren, Brielle Johnson, Bishop Johnson, and Julius-Thomas Cousins. She was a constant presence at their school events and activities, always cheering them on with her infectious laugh and genuine excitement.

Deborah’s warmth, thoughtfulness, and kindness were felt by everyone she met. She had an extraordinary ability to make others feel seen and loved. Deborah always poured her kindness and loving spirit into others in need. Around the holidays, she dedicated time to making custom Christmas ornaments for local nursing homes. She enjoyed organizing a group of family and friends to sing Christmas carols in order to spread cheer to those lonely around the holidays. Deborah was also an animal lover and was the proud mother and grandmother of numerous family pets. Teddy, her cherished dog, was her faithful companion. She took great joy in walking Teddy around parks and neighborhoods and blowing bubbles for him to chase in the backyard.

Deborah’s love for life extended to her many hobbies. She was passionate about attending church and bible study, shopping for holiday décor, and spending time outdoors, whether on walks in the park or at local festivals and musicals. Her love of storytelling made her a beloved figure around the family firepit, where she would share personal stories for hours of laughs and precious memories with those she held dear.

Her role as a mother and grandmother was at the core of her being. Deborah was the epitome of love, support, and devotion, and her family always knew they could count on her. Since her immediate family all lives in close proximity around Dayton, Ohio, she would show up with groceries or small gifts for her children and grandchildren frequently and everyone felt her love constantly. She also lived a life of unwavering faith as a devout Christian, and her example of kindness, service, and grace will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Deborah leaves behind her children; Jilinda Johnson (Winner) 44, Joshua Sedillo 36, and Melissa Leutwyler (Sedillo) 32 (Eric Leutwyler 33); her grandchildren; Brielle Johnson 18, Bishop Johnson 15, and Julius-Thomas Cousins 11; and her extended family, including many friends, and a host of cherished pets. Her surviving siblings are her sister Susan Grant (Polk) and her brother, Donald Polk II.

Her presence will be deeply missed, but we take comfort in the countless memories she leaves behind and the love she gave us all. May her soul rest in peace as she joins the heavenly family that awaits her. Deborah was preceded in death by her mother Nancy Pickering and her father Donald Polk, as well as her brother Joseph Polk.

A Visitation will be held at Newcomer South Chapel Funeral Home (3940 Kettering Blvd, Kettering, OH 45439) on Wednesday, August 06, 2025 from 5:00PM until the time of the Celebration of Life at 7:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her honor to the Pink Ribbon Girls.