Josephine Jane Surber Korbach

Josephine Jane "Jo Jane" Surber Korbach at the age of 105 passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 28, 2025, with her children at her side in her Black Mountain, North Carolina home. Jo Jane was born on April 10, 1920, in Richmond, Virginia. She is known for her wisdom, love, and faith. She is preceded in death by her loving husband John William "Johnny" Korbach, Jr., her parents Violet Carrie (Wickline) Surber and Charles Gordon Surber, her sisters Betty Ann Surber Truitt Arnold and Mary Gordon Surber Hock, and her daughter Kristi Josephine Korbach Tillett. She is survived by her children Karen Jane Korbach Phillips, John William "Jack" Korbach, III, Charles Gordon "Charlie" Korbach, and Kevin James Korbach and wife Lisa. "Grandma Korbach" will forever be remembered by her grandchildren: Jill Anne Phillips Gullahorn, Matthew Scott Phillips, Chelsea Korbach Lee, Scout Adams, Jonathan James Korbach and her great-grandchildren: Drew, Adie, and Tyler Gullahorn as well as Daniel and Zachary Phillips.
Although born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1920, Jo Jane and her parents soon relocated to Willoughby in Norfolk, Virginia, where she grew up. After graduating from Maury High School and Mary Washington College, Jo Jane married John William "Johnny" Korbach, Jr. in 1945. He had returned home from serving as an Army Air Corps pilot in WW II. Since he was a contractor and waterfront developer, they built a house on Willoughby Bay and developed a yacht basin. Unfortunately, the new Interstate 64 used eminent domain to take their property in 1962. Jo Jane and Johnny then moved with their five children to Nags Head on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. They built a business on the causeway selling gas and souvenirs along with renting sailboats and jet skis. Sometime after Johnny died in 1991, their land was developed for cottages in Lone Cedar Village. While attending a faith conference at Ridgecrest in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Jo Jane fell in love with the mountains and moved there in 2000 when she was 80 years old. Being a good and faithful servant of her Lord Jesus, Jo Jane always actively served in her local church: Mt. Olivet Methodist Church in Manteo, NC, and Generation Church in Swannanoa, NC. Jo Jane looked forward to going to her heavenly home. The congregation of Generation Church in Swannanoa celebrated Jo Jane's life in their service on Sunday, November 1st. Later, Jo Jane's family and friends will gather at their Nags Head cottage to celebrate her interesting, faithful life and spread her ashes.