This funeral was special because Debbie, the deceased, was instrumental in my meeting my future wife and multiple other friends that I would not have otherwise met. Debbie was the first friend that my wife made when she moved to Houston back in the 1970's. I met Debbie and my future wife at Fitzgerald's in 1979. Fitz was an old Polish beer hall renovated slightly to become a nightclub with local and national musical acts. How many people met their future spouse in a bar? Quite a few. Fitzgerald's was finally leveled a couple of years ago and now there are condos in that spot. History erased.
Her father transferred the family to Fort Hood and settled in Killeen as a career soldier until his retirement. Debbie graduated from Killeen High School in 1965 and has lots of friends from those days. Debbie met Sal Busalacchi while he was a serviceman at Fort Hood. They married and when his enlistment came to an end they moved to San Diego to be with Sal's family, and they all later moved to San Francisco. While in San Francisco, she became one of the secretaries for the legendary Santana, notably putting them on a plane to play the Woodstock Festival. 
I am going to publish Debbie's obituary that another friend wrote for her. You can get an idea of the life she lived from the obit. Debbie will be missed, and I will forever be grateful to her.
Deborah Jane Kropff was born in Heidelberg, Germany on October 15, 1947, the only child of Edward and Virginia Kropff. Her father served in the U.S. Army and her loving parents raised her all over the world, including Japan and Germany. Her parents both precede her in death, as well as her infant son Charlie.
(Debbie's high school graduation picture 1965)
(just a few of the pics on display at the funeral)
After Santana disbanded, she worked for Buddy Miles, Dave Mason, and others. In 1974 she went to work as tour escort for the USAA tour program and traveled the world taking care of vacationing military families. While back in Texas she met her second husband, Steven Cabrel . They married and moved to Houston, Texas, where she worked for an investment banking house in the back office and as an administrator for the Houston Boat Show. She lived in the Heights and co-managed Fitzgerald's nightclub in the neighborhood for several years in the early 80's. Debbie built a reputation as a dresser for rock and roll personalities from her Santana days, and continued this tradition for Fitzgeralds' performing bands. It was Debbie who first dressed Stevie Ray Vaughn in a vintage kimono for a Fitzgerald performance. It became a signature look for him and he went on to wear a kimono on stage for years.
In the late 80's, Debbie moved back to Killeen to be closer to her family and old friends. She worked for Sprint, the phone company, a job she really enjoyed. After she retired, she lived out her days in Killeen, happily shopping at the dollar store. She had many dogs in her lifetime, notably Ginny May in Houston and her last pups Bruno and Diamond, that she loved deeply.
Debbie was a force of nature, a unique and interesting person who had close and loving friends all over the globe. Visitation was at Crawford-Bower Funeral Home in Killeen on Monday, October 2, and the the service was Tuesday, October 3 at 10:30am. Burial followed at Killeen Cemetery. There was a non-hosted lunch following the burial at Henderson's, Debbie's favorite Killeen restaurant.
(Debbie was buried next to her parents in Killeen, Texas)
(5 of my favorite people, all from association with Debbie. Only Debbie - second from left - is gone, so far)
Rest in peace, Debco.
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