Ethel S. Elbert

Ethel Louise Schell Elbert, 88, of Louisville, Kentucky passed into the peaceful presence of her Lord on Pentecost midnight, 2020. A baptized child of God, she lived her life to its fullest with strong faith in Christ Jesus. She kept her family close at her side, even to the end.

She served over 40 years as a Master’s level educator, retiring as a high school teacher, and remaining active with Eastern Kentucky University Alumni Association and the Bullitt County Retired Teachers Association. She leaves a lasting heritage of many lives touched in Kentucky at Manly Junior High and Shawnee High School (Louisville), Immanuel Lutheran High School (Louisville), Bullitt Central High School and North Bullitt High School.

A life-long church organist and choir director, she accompanied and directed music at St Peter’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, Trinity United Church of Christ, and Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Louisville, and Divine Savior Lutheran Church in Shepherdsville. She was an active member of the Louisville chapter of the American Guild of Organists, a lifelong piano teacher, and an alto with the Louisville Bach Society. . She and her husband Tom enjoyed the Merry Makers Square Dance Club, were avid folk dancers and were regulars at the Kentucky Dance Institute.

Preceding her through death into eternal life are her parents Henry William and Clara Bernadine (nee Allsmiller) Schell; her brother William Ernst Schell (Ann); and her son, Stuart William Elbert.

She is survived by Thomas Joseph Elbert, Sr., her loving husband of 62 years. Together they raised three children, and were further blessed with twelve grandchildren, and more than six great grandchildren. Surviving her are her children: Thomas J. Elbert, Jr. (Susan), Lynne Elbert Williams (Eric), and Bruce Boone Elbert (Lori); her grandchildren: Tobiah Elbert (Jessica), Stuart Elbert (Amy), Talitha nee Elbert Schroeder (Nolan), Nathan Elbert, Elizabeth nee Williams Wilhoit (Morgan), Ian Williams, Evan Williams, Madelyn Williams, Nina Elbert, Gideon Elbert, Deborah Elbert, Peter Elbert; and her great-grandchildren: Malachi, Adelaide, Rosalie, Hudson, Sawyer, and Sofia. She will be missed by a host of friends and family.

The funeral will be at Divine Savior Lutheran Church in Shepherdsville on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Visitation will be the afternoon and evening before on June 12 at Arch L. Heady Resthaven on Bardstown Road. She will await the resurrection at Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky.

Memorial contributions may be made to the music endowment at Divine Savior Lutheran Church, 1025 N. Buckman St., Shepherdsville, KY 40165. Glory to God in the highest …