Debra Eakins Friedman

Debra “Deb” Eakins Friedman, née Miller, of Morgantown, WV, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2025, at the age of 66, after a long and courageous battle with PEComa, a very rare cancer. True to her nature, she met her illness with strength and humor, showing the same resilience she carried throughout her life.

Born March 22, 1959, to James L. and Margaret A. Miller, Deb grew up with a mix of wisdom and humor as well as a good dose of stubborn Mountaineer pride. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved Aunt Betty L. Miller, her Aunt Harriet J. Whitaker, and her Uncle, Donald R. Miller.

She was the proud mother of three children—Lauren Seiler (Nick), James Eakins, and Katharine Eakins—and the adoring grandmother of Henry Seiler, who brought her immeasurable joy. Through her marriage to Joel Friedman, Deb’s family grew to include children of the heart, Emily Friedman (Aubrey Young) and Ashley Friedman (Carly). Blending families was a gift that brought her deep happiness, and she treasured every moment spent together. To Deb, family meant everything, and her happiest moments were when everyone was together around a table, swapping stories, laughing, and enjoying her cooking.

Deb’s heart was tied deeply to West Virginia University. Deb carried her West Virginia roots proudly and loudly—especially when cheering on her Mountaineers. She genuinely believed the players could hear her through the television and would play better if she shouted encouragement loud enough. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies in 1982 and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration in 1992.

Deb’s passion for the WVU Marching Band was widely known. She embodied the spirit of The Pride of West Virginia—believing that “every note, every step, every time” mattered, not just on the field but in life. The friendships, traditions, and shared purpose of the band shaped her deeply, and she carried that rhythm through everything she did.

As a student at WVU, Deb joined the honorary band service fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi, becoming one of the first women in the fraternity at WVU and in the Northeast District. Though she never set out to be a pioneer, she became the first woman elected to leadership at both the chapter and district levels, paving the way for generations to follow. She went on to serve as sponsor of the Omicron Chapter for more than 30 years, guided countless students and alumni, and held national leadership roles including Vice President for Programs. Her fraternity brothers will always remember her warmth, quick wit, and that signature mix of honesty, encouragement, and tough love that somehow made you laugh even as you got to work. Whether offering advice, listening with empathy, or sharing a beer at Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Deb had a way of balancing humor and heart—keeping everyone grounded, inspired, and smiling long after the conversation ended.

Her devotion to the music and people of WVU extended far beyond her student days. Deb poured her heart into the WVU Alumni Band, a community that blended her love of music, friendship, and Mountaineer pride. She served as president, coordinated overseas trips that carried the WVU spirit across the world, and helped establish an endowment to ensure the band’s future for generations to come. For Deb, the Alumni Band wasn’t just an organization—it was family. The rehearsals, parades, and reunions were touchstones that kept her connected to the rhythm and camaraderie she so deeply valued. She also shared her love of music beyond the university, serving on the Board of Directors for the Wine and Jazz Festival, where she helped turn her passion for performance into meaningful support for students and community programs across West Virginia.

Professionally, Deb worked in human resources at WVU, before retiring in 2006. Retirement, of course, didn’t slow her down. When she moved to Virginia, she found a new home at Pearmund Cellars, managing the Wine Club and helping the Barrel Club grow. For Deb, it wasn’t just about wine—it was about people. She built friendships in tasting rooms and on vineyard walks, creating a circle of community that became her Virginia family. Just as Morgantown had shaped her first world, Virginia shaped her second, giving her both roots and joy in the final chapter of her life.

Deb had high expectations for people and was passionate about her views and beliefs, but she delivered them with a twinkle in her eye and a sense of humor that could disarm just about anyone. She was always game for an adventure—whether that meant traveling overseas, championing new ideas, or braving a roller coaster’s biggest drop. To know Deb was to laugh with her—and almost certainly get roped into something fun you hadn’t planned.

She will be remembered for her sharp sense of humor, her gift for storytelling, and her fierce loyalty to the people and places she loved. She was the friend who showed up with exactly what you needed, the coworker who made jobs human, the mom who cheered loudest, and the woman who never passed a baby without wanting to hold them. Deb lived her life in a way that left a lasting mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her, and her legacy will continue to carry forward in the countless lives she touched.

So raise a glass of your favorite wine, cheer “Let’s Go Mountaineers!” a little louder, or pass around a basket of pepperoni rolls in her honor. That’s the way Deb would want to be celebrated—with joy, community, and a touch of mischief.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Deb may be made to support the WVU Pride Practice Field at https://give.wvu.edu/Deb or mail a check made out to the WVU Foundation to 1 Waterfront Place, 7th Floor, Morgantown, WV 26501 with “IMO Deb Friedman 2w1403” in the memo line.

To honor Deb’s life and the many circles of friends and family she cherished, two memorial services will be held. The family invites all who loved Deb to join in celebrating her remarkable life.

Friends and family will be received first on Tuesday, October 21, at Moser Funeral Home, 233 Broadview Avenue, Warrenton, VA, beginning at 3 p.m., with a reception to follow at the Moser House.

A second visitation will take place on Thursday, October 23, at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV from 10 a.m., until the time of the memorial service at 11 a.m., with Brian Lamb, M.Div officiating. Inurnment will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens. A reception to follow from 2–4 p.m. at the WVU Erickson Alumni Center, 1 Alumni Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506.

Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com