Cornelia Ibach
Cornelia Ann Trott Ibach, 69, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, went home to be with the Lord and was reunited with her husband, Thomas Ibach, who preceded her in death 23 years ago. She was surrounded by her family at Parkwest Hospital in Knoxville, after suffering a sudden heart attack.
She was born and raised in Knoxville and graduated from Central High School in 1958.
After meeting and marrying at Northwest Bible College, Tom and Nelie spent many years serving the Lord on the mission field in Oaxaca, Mexico. Following Tom’s death in 1986, she returned to school to complete a degree in education.
She taught at Chattanooga Valley Middle School until she retired in 2005. She loved her students and was a passionate educator. Since then, she continued to serve the Lord through her involvement at Mountain View Presbyterian and Cornerstone Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
She was also an active volunteer at the Ronald McDonald house at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Nelie, as she was called by those who knew her best, was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. She demonstrated Christ’s love in all her relationships. She was a courageous, obedient follower of Christ. She lived to serve and had a sincere servant’s heart. She was living legacy of Biblical womanhood.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Annie Trott; and sister, Euretha.
Survivors include her brother, Thayles, his wife, Peggy; sister, Judy and brother-in-law, Roger, and their children, Robbie and Marty, all of Knoxville; her five sons, Thomas J. Ibach Jr. and wife, Jet, and his children, Shawna, TeeJay, and Harley; Paul Ibach and his wife, Rebecca and their children, Joshua, Luanne, Leana and husband, Micheal Reel; Stephen Ibach and wife, Willa, and their children, Ethan, Samuel, Sydney, Joseph and Noah; Daniel Ibach and wife, Courtney and their children, Chancelor and Chatham; Julio Ibach and his son, Diego; great-grandchildren, Abbie, Seth, Ashton, Cornelia Grace, and Aubrey.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, Chattanooga.
Arrangements are by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel, www.rosemortuary.com.