Elaine was the third of four children born to Forest and Olive Sellers. Her older siblings were Leonard and Lois. Her baby sister was Darlene. Elaine graduated from Jerome High School in Jerome, Idaho. At a young age, Elaine developed a passion for Christ and pursued the ministry. She was granted license with the United Pentecostal Church International and preached several revival meetings before her marriage. She met a young sailor named Robert Joe Bibb while visiting in San Diego, California for a wedding. That weekend she attended Revival Tabernacle on the same night Robert visited for the first time and they became acquainted. After his conversion and a brief courtship, she married Robert Bibb November 9, 1953 in Jerome, Idaho.
Elaine and her husband assumed the pastorate of the United Pentecostal Church in Pocatello, Idaho in 1957. The church was small and Robert worked in a barber shop while she took a job at Jack and Jill Children’s Clothing Shop. Later she worked at Lamb Weston Potato Company to help support her family. The Bibbs ministered in Pocatello for eighteen years.
As their four children grew up Robert was intent on teaching them music, to play instruments, and to sing. Elaine learned to play the upright bass. She switched to the electric bass when the family began playing and singing in churches and local holiday gatherings. In 1975 they resigned the church in Pocatello to travel full-time, singing in evangelistic meetings. The Bible Singing Bibb Family toured throughout the Northwest and British Columbia, then in California, and eventually toured throughout the southwest, reaching as far east as Tennessee.
In 1981, Robert and Elaine assumed the pastorate of Calvary Apostolic Church (now, The Pentecostals of Phoenix) in Phoenix, Arizona, where they served the church for thirteen years before resigning in 1994. Their son, Rob Bibb, was elected as the pastor.
Robert and Elaine Bibb continued to pursue their calling through evangelizing and supporting other ministries. In 2001, they were elected pastor and first lady for Abundant Life Church, in Gilbert, Arizona where they served until their retirement in 2009. While pastoring in Gilbert, Elaine was elected to serve the Arizona Ladies Ministries as Section Four Ladies Leader. She loved the position and faithfully served until June 2018.
After various health challenges they moved into an assisted living facility until the death of Robert Bibb in May 2020. Since then Elaine has been cared for by her children. Elaine couldn’t have been happier than to have her four children and their spouses active in ministry. Daughter Gayla and Terry Baughman pastor LifeChurch in Gilbert, Arizona. Daughter Jolene and Ricardo Rodriguez attend United Pentecostal Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where Jolene serves as the women’s ministries director. Daughter Tamra and Alvin Crosson pastor Life 365 Church in Denton, Texas. Son Robert and Connie Bibb pastor the Pentecostals of Phoenix church.
Elaine is survived by her four children, nine grandchildren (Marenda, Rhette, Robby, Kristy, Corey, Coral, Raina, Ashley, and Elyse), and nine great-grandchildren with another on the way (Madison, Savannah, Gavin, Adele, Judah, Greyson, Bronson, Everly, and Wyatt). Elaine was very close to her last surviving sister, Darlene Sewell. Darlene was a great source of comfort to Elaine when she lost her beloved husband, Robert.
Elaine loved people. Everywhere she went people would fall in love with her. Many called her Mom when she was younger and Grandma in her later years. She had a gift that drew people to her loving nature. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all those who “adopted” her.
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