Elna Karel Ribbe was born Dec. 15, 1937 in Gary, Indiana to Frank and Lenora Brunckhorst.
She was born again to new and eternal life in her Lord Jesus Christ on Bastille Day 1953. Elna married Paul Ribbe, now Prof. Emeritus,
Virginia Tech. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, her brother, Lee Brunckhorst and his wife, Einir of Sydney, Australia; her son, Dr. David Paul Ribbe, clinical psychologist, and his wife, Janelle of Blacksburg; her daughter, Julie Anne (Mrs. John) MacKinney, Legal Nurse Consultant of University Park, MD; her daughter, Cheryl Beth (Mrs. Jacob) Porter, Nurse Practitioner of Richmond; 9 grandchildren – Aislynn Locklear, Nathanael Ribbe, Karelyn Heft, Gwendolyn Woodard, Seth MacKinney, Elena Porter, Jonathan Ribbe, Christopher Ribbe, and Anderson Porter; 5 great grandsons and two great grandchildren on the way.
In 1966 Elna and Paul moved to Blacksburg where they helped found Blacksburg
Christian Fellowship in 1969 and where Elna was Teaching Leader of Women’s Bible Study Fellowship for 33 years. Elna’s passions were helping people to better know and serve the Lord Jesus, being a wife and homemaker, and raising her children to follow Jesus Christ.
A memorial service will be held in her honor at 4:00 p.m. today at Blacksburg Christian Fellowship, 2300 N. Main St.
Blacksburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BCF, PO Box 813, Blacksburg, VA 24063.
