Jerry Catron Ichter, of Minden, LA, age 88, beloved wife of Bill Ichter for over 69 years, passed peacefully into the arms of JESUS on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.
Jerry was born in Forest, LA on August 1, 1930 to A. B. and Luta Catron. After graduating from Forest High School as valedictorian, Jerry enrolled in Louisiana College, where she was a secretarial science major. She graduated in 1950.
She met the love of her life, Bill Ichter, at Louisiana College after he returned from service overseas in World War II. They were married June 2, 1949.
Together, they served the Lord in three churches – Emmanuel Baptist Church in Alexandria, LA, Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, LA, and First Baptist Church, Amite, LA. After sensing God’s call to missions, they left the United States with their children in 1956 to go to Brazil. She served faithfully under the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for 35 years in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Her assignment was Church and Home Ministries, and she gave her best to both of these ministries. She always loved working with the children in each of the churches where she served – both as a Sunday School teacher and a children’s choir worker. She taught piano at the Baptist Religious Education Institute and South Brazil Baptist Theological Seminary, institutions which prepare leaders for Brazilian churches. As a lover of missions, she was always very active in WMU and other missions organizations. On the home front, during her husband’s frequent work-related travels, she shouldered much of the responsibility for raising her four children. She was a very gracious hostess, and hosted hundreds of people in her home over the 35 years she spent on the mission field. She mentored many young women and served as an example of wife, mother, and servant.
She remained a faithful servant even after retirement in 1991 and served the Lord at every opportunity. Her strong faith and love for the Lord have been evident to all who knew her.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Ichter, and their four children – Alana Greenwich and her husband, Ron, from Minden, LA; Alan Ichter and his wife, Barbara, from Carrollton, TX; Nelson Ichter and his wife, Janilda, from Dallas, TX; and Carlos Ichter and his wife, Shannon, from Houston, TX. She is also survived by ten grandchildren and their spouses who lovingly called her Vovó: Jason, Jeremy, Jana and Joel Greenwich, William, Michael, Philippe, Leslyn, Christian and Daniela Ichter. She had sixteen great-grandchildren: Jake, Julia, Joshua, Gabriel, Caleb, Madelyn, Lily, Lucas, Sofia, Jack, Olive, Elias, Charlotte, Judah, Emmett, and Miles. She is also survived by one sister, Pat Catron de Pingré, of Irving, TX (formerly of Minden), 5 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alonzo and Luta Catron, and a brother, Benny Catron.
It is interesting to note that of two of Jerry’s children and four of her grandchildren have served or are serving as missionaries. Truly her legacy will last for a long time through the lives of her family.
The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church in Minden on Sunday, September 23, from 5-8. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm Monday, September 24, at First Baptist Church Minden with Bro. Leland Crawford officiating. Interment will follow at Gardens of Memory in Minden under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden.
Memorials may be made to Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana or the WMU Foundation.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons that are able to be present: Jeremy and Joel Greenwich, William, Michael, Philippe and Christian Ichter. Honorary pallbearers will be members of her McDonald’s family and the Sonrisers.
Rose-Neath Funeral Home
211 Murrell Street
Minden, Louisiana 71055
(318) 377-3412