Elizabeth Ann Grubb

Elizabeth "Ann" (Gilchrist) Grubb passed away May 16, 2025 at IU Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, after a brief illness. She is survived by her sisters, Claudia Deen and Jean Killebrew; stepsons, Michael and Stanley Grubb; foster daughters, Margaret and Pauline Michael; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends in North Carolina, South Carolina and Indiana. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Ernest H. Grubb (2019) and Donnie J. Bryan (1972); parents, Virgil and Elizabeth Gilchrist; brothers, Jim and Bob Gilchrist; sister, Wilma (Gilchrist) Gill; and stepdaughter, Freda Denise Bryan (1971).
Ann was born May 17, 1939 in Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana to Virgil and Elizabeth (O'Dell) Gilchrist. Her father was in the construction business and during her first 4 years of life the family lived in Greencastle and for a short time in Venita, Oklahoma, returning to Indiana about 1945 for the rest of her parents' lives.
Ann attended Middle Road Elementary School and began her freshman year at Jeffersonville High School. Her father's work took the family to Reidland, KY for 18 months; then, returning to Jeffersonville for the second semester of her sophomore year, graduating in 1957. She attended Indiana University beginning at the Southeast Center in Jeffersonville and the Bloomington campus before transferring to the Teacher Training Program at Central Institute for the Deaf in St Louis, MO, where she graduated with a BS in Education with endorsement to teach the deaf. She also attended the University of Louisville and obtained her master's degree in Deaf Education from Ball State University, Muncie, IN.
Ann taught at the Deaf Oral School, Louisville, KY for four years; then, was hired as a classroom teacher at Indiana School for the Deaf from where she retired after 27 years. She was married to Donnie J. Bryan, the school's psychologist in 1969. After Donnie's death in 1972, Ann served as Supervising Teacher of the Primary School at ISD for 11 years. She married Ernest "Ernie" Grubb in 1977 and the couple taught at the school until retirement in 1989. During those years she also taught as an associate instructor in the Teacher Training Program for Deaf Education at Ball State University. She was a strong supporter of Ernie's ISD football teams who won National Championship titles among state schools for the deaf in 1982 and 1983.
Ann and Ernie retired to Hendersonville, NC in 1989 where they enjoyed living in the mountains and playing golf. Ann held part time jobs with Forge Mountain Foods, Bon Worth Department Store and Wild Birds Unlimited and volunteered with hospice in Transylvania and Henderson Counties. It was in those retirement years when Ernie and Ann began to sing Southern Gospel music at their church and at other places by invitation. They both
also became very involved in working on the genealogies of their families during their 25 years there.
When Ernie began to suffer health issues the couple relocated to South Carolina, living in independent living retirement communities, first in Greenville, then Anderson and finally The Renaissance in Due West where they lived from 2014 until Ernie's death in 2019. Due West is also the home of Erskine College, where they became involved in the adopt-a grandparent program with the ladies' tennis team. The program was designed to give the ladies a place to go for affection, advice and a feeling of home while so far away from their own parents and grandparents. The Grubbs hosted "granddaughters" from Germany, Canada, Brazil and Chile. Ann also taught a weekly bible study group, directed a small choral group, served as librarian and played piano for church services at The Renaissance. She also played the piano for Due West Baptist Church where they were members.
After Ernie's death Ann returned to southern Indiana to spend time with her two sisters, then both in their 90's. She became a member of Calvary Road Baptist Church, New Albany, IN. On April 18, 2023 Ann moved to Bridgepoint Gardens, a senior and assisted living facility in Jeffersonville, IN.
A visitation and memorial service will be held at 10 AM, June 20, 2025 at Calvary Road Baptist Church, New Albany, IN 47150 followed by burial at Walnut Ridge Cemetery, Jeffersonville, IN 47130.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Ann's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis TN 38105; Haven of Rest Ministries, 219 Whitner St., Anderson, SC 20624; or, to Connie Maxwell Children's Home, 810 Maxwell Ave, Greenwood, SC 29646.
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