Obituary: Grubbs, Rebekka
Born September 24th, 1981, in Richmond to Catherine O. and Louis A. Sprouse, Rebekka attended Atlee High School and the University of Virginia where she completed undergraduate and graduate studies and was awarded Ph.D. in biochemistry.
She did post-doctoral work at Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology and at Cornell University.
She was published in prominent journals, taught at the University of Rochester, and obtained a faculty position at Gonzaga University in Spokane.
A marathoner and triathlete, Rebekka, along with her husband, Nathaniel (Nate) Grubbs, cycled thousands of miles, including tours in Oregon, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island.
Smart, athletic, witty and beautiful with a gigantic smile and ready laugh, Rebekka is remembered mostly for being just plain sweet.
She loved her husband, family, friends and dogs, and was passionate about French fries, cows, country music and books.
During her illness, Rebekka maintained a quiet composure and was concerned principally for the well-being of others.
She died, as she lived, with grace and without spite, fear, or self-pity.
In addition to her husband, Nate Grubbs, and mother Cathy Sprouse, survivors include a brother, Brenainn Sprouse, sister, Mary Dobroth (Chris), and grandmother Jane O’Grady Tiller (Calvin).
Rebekka was predeceased by her father, Louis, maternal grandfather, Edward L. O’Grady, and paternal grandparents, Louis and Bernice Sprouse.
Services - March 1st, at Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville with visitation at 9:30, service at 11:30, and luncheon following.
Memorial gifts - to support research regarding cholangiocarcinoma, the understudied cancer which took Rebekka’s life - to the Rebekka Sprouse Grubbs Fund at UVA Health Foundation, P.O.
Box 800773, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0773 - or online to - www.supportuvacancer.org with Rebekka’s name included in the “Special Instructions” box.