Odessa R. Zoerb

Born Sep. 25 1924, Odessa R. Zoerb passed on to her eternal reward Sep. 28, 2011 at age 87. Thoughtful, giving and caring, she lived a full rich life dedicated to family, friends and neighbors-- a life that served as a model for all to emulate.

Born and raised on the family farm in Brittons Neck, SC, she attended Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC, before taking a job in Kingsport at the Eastman, intending a career in business. After the end of WWII, she met and married Dan Zoerb, an Air Corps fighter ace from Kingsport, and together they built and operated the old Johnson City Airport until he was recalled for the Korean War. For over 23 years, she traveled the world as an Air Force wife and mother until his retirement in 1973 when they built their retirement home near Fall Branch.

Odessa was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, and survived by her three sons, Rick and Vicky, Rob and Marti and Tony, her five grandchildren, Melissa, Danny, Nathan, Matthew and Jacob, and her three great-grandchildren, Colin, Garrett and Patrick.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM, Oct. 5, 2011 at Glenn Alpine United Methodist Church officiated by Rev Dale M. Gilbert.

Interment at Arlington National Cemetery is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee at P.O. Box 3327, Johnson City, TN 37602.