Reader Profile: Meet My Friend, Debbie Walkup

Debbie and Bob

Recently, I was asked to write the reader profile for the month of August. Jennifer asked if I would introduce you to my good friend, Debbie Walkup. If you know Debbie, you know what a joy it is to know such a gifted and talented  person. She is a delight. Debbie has seven children ranging in ages 30 to 15. She home schooled them all until high school. After that, sent them to finish at Trinity Christian School.  Her husband, Bob is a medical doctor in the Army Reserves. Dr. Walkup has been deployed a few times for a few months at a time to Afghanistan. — Laura Fulkerson

What’s on your I-Pod? “Oh, lots praise and worship. Chris Tomlin, and what’s that funny guy with the goatee? Oh yes, David Crowder. I love him!”

Who is in your house? “Zoe, Bob, Hope and me and Phoebe, our little chocolate lab puppy. I have a saltwater aquarium. We also have a front porch cat and a back porch cat. They don’t get along!”

What is it like being the wife of a military doctor in the Army Reserves? “It’s a very positive experience for both of us. He is so happy doing what he does that it makes me happy along with him. I will be sad when he retires because he has really enjoyed his work. I’m very proud of him”

Six of their seven kids. Josh, Hope, Oree, Will, Jeth and Zoe. Their puppy, Phoebe down in front.

After being the primary teacher of your children when they were young, what are some memories you have and your reason for home schooling? “ We wanted to home school our kids because we enjoyed just being with them. I loved taking them outside in the mornings and just exploring the outdoors. We loved pulling up roots in the yard to examine them and teach the kids hands on knowledge of how things grow. We had chickens and lots of animals around for them to get hands on experience from them. Whenever I would have a small baby, we would go to the library and check out a gazillion books from the non-fiction section. It’s amazing how much kids will learn just by reading good books.

I have a master’s degree in Science, so when they were small, I had a group of other home schooled kids who would come over once a week, and I would teach them Science and also drama. We did plays and experiments during the morning and they would play all afternoon. I remember them getting boards and nails and making their own fort. They are now older and have little ones of their own and still talk about those days with fond memories.

Debbie, you are also a gifted singer and quite the actress. How did that get started? My kids were always involved in music and dramas at church. I used to go with them and watch. When the youngest was old enough, I decided to try out and be in the plays as well. I enjoyed being in productions with my kids. My first role was Mrs. Cratchet in, “The Gospel According to Scrooge”. I also love to sing! I always wanted to sing in the choir, but never went until Zoe, my youngest was old enough to also be involved and I didn’t feel like I was always leaving her.