Mary Krichbaum

Mary Eunice (Tate) Krichbaum, 92, died suddenly and peacefully on Nov. 20, 2017. She was born on July 11, 1925, in Big Sandy, W.Va., and moved to Indianapolis, Ind., a few months later, the daughter of Addison and Rosa Bailey Downey Tate. She met her WWII pen pal and future husband, SSgt. Robert Dale Krichbaum, at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis. After courtship, they married on June 1, 1946, and moved to Brighton, Mich. There they raised their daughters, Kathy (Spake) and “Jane” (Tom Bissonette). After Robert retired, they moved to Niceville, Fla. Robert preceded her in death in 2003 and shortly thereafter Eunice moved to Chattanooga Tenn., to be with family. Her new church home was White Oak Baptist Church, a block from her daughter’s house. She is survived by her daughters; her sister, Alice (Lewis) Baker; her grandchildren, Hilary (Justin Evans), Jared (Miyuki Kiwada) Bissonette, and Evan (Megan Hallar) Bissonette; stepgranddaughter, Ashley Fletcher; and great-grandson, Ian Walker; and many nieces and nephews. Eunice will be buried next to Robert at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga. Donations to the Chattanooga Food Bank or your favorite charity in her memory would be appreciated.