Deborah Boone DuBose and Darrell DuBose II, also known as Debbie and Tinker, were high school sweethearts, graduating from Devine in 1976 and marrying in 1977 at Saint Josephs Catholic Church in Devine.
In reflecting on those days before children came along, they shared that they enjoyed playing slow pitch softball, riding horses – Debbie liked to barrel race – and spending many hours with the Devine Volunteer Fire Department and the Ladies Auxiliary. Related activities included participating in the Winter Garden pumper races, fighting fires, and building fire trucks. The DuBoses found satisfaction in helping out the community.
Debbie always had an office or secretarial job. She worked for many years at Camtex in Devine until they closed down. For the last 15 years, she has worked for East Medina Specialty Utility Services. Tinker, in the early years, did a variety of jobs, from picking watermelons to hauling hay to carpentry and construction work. However, in 1982, Tinker went to work for HB Zachary and had a good run until he was hurt in a construction accident in 1994.
In the following years, Tinker had to learn to do everything all over, “including things we take for granted, such as walking“, he relates. He adds that his wife, family, and friends did as much as they could to help, “never leaving his side”. Tinker even gratefully recalls that the Fire Department held blood drives for him. At the time, the Duboses had two children – a daughter, Mindy, who was 8, and a son, Darrell DuBose, III, “Skeeter” who was one year old.
Looking back at those difficult times, rather than feeling morose, Mindy shares that, until her father was able to return home, she and her brother would spend one week with her mother’s parents, Maria and Paige Boone, and the next week with her dad‘s parents, Evelyn and Nuggie DuBose, all who lived in Devine.
Recalling other lighthearted trivia, Mindy states that her dad would paint her name and sports number on his prosthetic leg. “The coolest, changeable tattoo ever!” she humorously shares. She adds that her parents went to every game they possibly could, “And there were a lot of games because I played volleyball, basketball, softball, and tennis.” Plus, her brother was quite involved in sports as well, including baseball and football.
Interestingly, in Skeeter’s senior year – 2010/2011 – Tinker hand-sewed a maroon-and-gold Warhorse flag for the team. Creating this flag took a lot of time and several trips to San Antonio for material. On one particular trip made on a Sunday, the family was disappointed to find the fabric store to be closed. But the effort was well received and appreciated. Today, the Warhorses still carry and fly that special flag!
Mindy shares that despite her father’s disabilities from the accident, he did the best he could, and, “like everything he did in life, he did it with pride, with love for his kids, and for Devine.”
Today, Mindy is married to Justin Newman. They have two children: Brayden and Taylor Newman. They live in Devine, as well as Skeeter DuBose and his girlfriend.