Patricia L. Bible

So often people have the tendency to look at the elderly and forget that they too were once children; but Patti Vonachen-Bible never lost the spirit and love of a child. She had an unshakeable faith in her heavenly Father, that kept in her the beautiful spirit of a child, all her days. Patti was born March 20th 1953, in Peoria Illinois to Rudolph and Eileen Vonachen. Patti was one of 5 children, and when Patti had just turned six years old, her father passed away suddenly. That loss shaped her younger years, and after she graduated high school she began a journey searching for something more. After two years at Illinois State University she moved to Tempe, Arizona and pursued a degree in outdoor recreation at ASU. She spent her time backpacking, camping, white water rafting, kayaking, and enjoying the beauties of nature, and the road steadied her spirit and offered periods of reflection. Quietly, God was calming the storm in her heart and instilling passions that lasted throughout her life. In 1975, she made her way to Montana, where she found what she had been searching for all along...God. The void she carried with her for so long was filled by the love and spirit of Christ. She would often say, that the best day of her life was the day she was baptized, because in that moment she felt her past washed away forever. In 1979, she offered her life in the ministry of the gospel, as her love for souls continued to grow. She loved to share with others the love that God had shown to her. Due to health reasons, she eventually left the ministry. Ever the adventurer and always wanting to help others, she explored the lush mountains of Oregon for a time before settling in Tri-cities, WA, where she received a degree in nursing. During this time, she exchanged letters with a friend back east she'd met years before in a Gospel meeting, Keith Bible. Through a mutual love of Christ, they fell in love and were wed in Illinois. They moved to Massachusetts, where their daughter Sarah was born. A couple of years later, they moved to Cedarburg, Wisconsin, where their son Nathan was born. In them, she discovered the joys of being a mother, which she cherished deeply. Their home welcomed friends, ministers, family members, and often those who had nowhere else to go. After a lifetime of healing and helping cardiac patients, Patti retired from nursing. She and her husband bought a piece of land just outside of Lynchburg, TN on beautiful Tim’s Ford Lake. Patti spent her last days there kayaking with her dog, spending time with her children, and visiting her mother in the nearby nursing home. What Patti loved most about the area were her friends in Christ, and listening to the gospel story that continued to be an inspiration to her life. She is survived by her husband Keith, daughter Sarah and her husband Logan Foster, son Nathan, and a multitude of family and friends. Services will be held at Lynchburg Funeral Home located at 1630 Fayetteville HWY Lynchburg, TN 37352. Everyone is encouraged to attend and all will be welcome to gather in remembrance of Patti’s life. Visitation will begin at 12:30, followed by services at 2:30, with the burial to immediately follow and a catered dinner for any and all that can stay.

Patricia L. Bible

March 20, 1953 - September 23, 2021