Phyllis E. Rohrbach

Phyllis E. Rohrbach

Phyllis Elaine (Stark) Rohrbach, 83, of Boyertown, PA, passed away peacefully surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren and pastor on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at Lehigh Valley Hospital. She was the wife of William T. Rohrbach. She was born in Reading, PA to the late Henry and Florence (Rhoads) Stark and grew up on Schaeffer Street in Boyertown. As a child, she enjoyed spending time with her friends, attending Sunday School and singing in the church choir and cheerleading in high school.

Phyllis graduated from Boyertown High School in 1956 and from Kutztown State Teacher’s College in 1960. After college she began teaching first grade for the Boyertown Area School District and had 41 students in her first class at Pine Forge Elementary! On May 27, 1961 she married her beloved husband William “Bill” whom she had met while in college. She stopped teaching in 1965 in order to raise her children and then returned to teach at Boyertown Elementary in 1977, until retiring in 1998.

Upon retiring, Phyllis enjoyed taking many trips all across the country with Bill. During one trip to Georgia they unexpectedly met former president Jimmy Carter and his wife and they invited them to dine with them and attend their church service which was a wonderful experience! Each summer Phyllis loved going to Ocean City, NJ for two weeks with her whole family. Each spring Phyllis looked forward to traveling to Clearwater, FL to attend Phillies spring training games. She was an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan and for their 50th wedding anniversary she and Bill were sent on a Phillies cruise to the Caribbean by their children, which was a highlight in her life!

Phyllis loved to serve and care for others. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for several years and she delivered Meals on Wheels for over 15 years. She volunteered in many different capacities through her church, such as Operation 143, Come to the Table and Eucharistic ministry. She also served on the church landscaping committee and as a Sunday School teacher at St. John’s for over half her life.

In her own words, “What I most want to be remembered for is that I loved my family with all my heart and soul! I feel so fortunate that I had loving parents who took me to church and helped me to know God and how He wants me to live…My husband and children are so important to me. I feel so blessed to have them all to love. I have always loved children. That is why teaching was so special to me and also why having grandchildren is pure joy! I love them all so much!”

Phyllis was a lifelong member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Boyertown, PA. In addition to her husband of 61 years, she is survived by her daughter: Michele E. Frey (widow of the late Donald R. Frey, Jr.) and her sons, Mark W. Rohrbach and Michael J. Rohrbach, all of Boyertown: grandchildren: Lauren and Nicholas Frey, Ben and Brianna Rohrbach, Alana Rohrbach, Sofia Bananto, David Rohrbach and Moiria Rohrbach; brother, David L. Stark (husband of Marcia A. Stark) of Boyertown, and several cousins, niece and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 45 North Reading Avenue, Boyertown, PA 19512. Friends and family may call from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made

to St. John’s at the above address. Arrangements are by Morrell Funeral Home, Boyertown, PA.

7 Condolences
  1. To the family
    My heart goes out to all of you Mrs. R is and was one of the nicest people I have ever met. I got to know her when I was a teacher in the first grade Sunday school and we sang together. Peace be with you all

  2. My condolences to the rohrbqch/Frey family. May God grant you peace and strength during these days

  3. I remember Mrs. Rohrbach fondly as my sweet 1st grade teacher at Boyertown Elementary School! Sending prayers to her family and loved ones!

  4. I enjoyed working with Phyllis at Boyertown Elementary School. As a first grade teacher she was responsible for helping many children get a good start in their education. She did a great job in that capacity. Always sensitive to the needs of every child Phyllis accepted each one where they were educationally and emotionally and then worked diligently to take them as far as she could in the year. Personally I enjoyed working with her because she was willing to try new techniques to help each child achieve. I remember one time when she apologized for not being able to read with her son Mike anymore in the Parents As Reading Partners program. He was in fifth grade at the time! I said to her, “Just be glad you were able to get him to read with you that long.!” How many parents could get a 10 year-old to read with them? That was Phyllis. She was a supportive parent who worked just as hard with her own children as she did with those entrusted with her at Boyertown Elementary School. Rest easy Phyllis, you have been a good and faithful servant.

  5. As a new teacher arriving at BES, there were many great teachers that I looked up to and Phyllis was one of those great teachers! My daughter was a lucky first grader because she was in Mrs. Rohrbach’s room! She was a very quiet unassuming teacher but she did a fantastic job with the children. She always wore a smile and I can’t ever remember her complaining about anything! She ran a special spell-a-thon one year to raise money for a school project! She will be greatly missed by her colleagues and most of all by her family. I know if we would ask her today, she would say she was a very blessed person!
    I know she is in heaven teaching and loving all the young children that we lost to soon! God bless you Phyllis.

  6. I was so very sorry to hear about Phyllis……so many fond memories of her at St. John’s when I was a child to adult. Phyllis was such a joy to be with when she answered the phones and was right outside of my office. We shared many laughs and conversations. Phyllis and Bill were always there to volunteer at church whenever we had events. I also enjoyed playing Pinochle with them and they were very proud when Nick joined our group as a player! I loved the times I had with her and I loved seeing her write in her journals. Phyllis was a very kind, loving and generous woman…..I keep inside of me the qualities of her I strive to have……..hugs Bill, Michele, Lauren and Nick…..you are in my prayers……..Andrea

  7. Michele and Family, I am sorry for the loss of your Mother. My prayers and thoughts are with all of you.

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