12/10/2025
Marilyn Jean Rozelle (Ritter) passed away peacefully in her home on December 4, 2025. She was born on January 15, 1936, to Peter and Helen Ritter (Churnside) in Nesbitt Memorial Hospital. Marilyn grew up in Forty Fort, PA. She spent some summers at North Lake, and she worked at the Forty Fort Pool, where she was a swimming instructor and lifeguard. She worked at the Summer Day Camps that were held at the elementary schools and she was a natural born teacher. She graduated from Forty Fort High School in 1953 where she was on the yearbook staff as an editor and wrote the yearbook poems for each member of the graduating class. She played the Glockenspiel in the marching band. Marilyn always stayed in touch with her high school friends and organized many reunions, including her last class reunion which was held in 2015 at Francis Slocum Park.
After high school, Marilyn attended Bloomsburg State College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1957. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Phi educational Fraternity. She met Ralph B. Rozelle when she attended one of his lectures at Wilkes College. Over the months that followed, their connection grew stronger, and they enjoyed spending time together whenever they could. In August 1957, they were married and moved to State College, PA. Her first teaching assignment was at the Bishop St. School in Bellefonte, PA while Ralph was at graduate school at Penn State University. Her second teaching assignment was in Hornell, NY when Ralph’s graduate work moved to Alfred University. When she returned to the Wyoming Valley with her family, she put her career on hold to raise her children. She returned to teaching full-time in 1977 when she was hired at Wyoming Valley West School District. During that time, she earned an MA in Elementary Education from Wilkes College.
Upon retiring from teaching in 2002, she traveled extensively with Ralph, taking several trips to Europe, Canada, and the US. They loved going to Agatha Christie Murder Mystery dinners together and golfing at Sweet Valley. They were season ticket holders for the Red Barons and often traveled to Florida for Spring training. They were season ticket holders to the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins and active members of the
booster club. They traveled extensively to follow the team and flew to Milwaukee on the team charter for their second run at the Calder Cup. They loved their time at the beach and spent many summers on Long Beach Island, N.J. and taking their family to the Outer Banks, NC. They loved spending time with their grandchildren. They put in an inground pool for everyone to enjoy!
Marilyn was an active lifetime member of the Forty Fort United Methodist Church. She was the church historian and helped organize the Knitwits Knitting Club and made prayer shawls. She loved knitting, crocheting, swimming, playing cards, needlepoint and searching for records for her ancestry. Marilyn was also active in the Wyoming Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 1972, she was elected to the Board of Trustees at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School. She was the first woman to be elected to that board and served on it for 24 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Ralph B. Rozelle and her sister, Barbara Brush.
She is survived by her children, Dr. Peter L. Rozelle, Forty Fort, Ralph B. Rozelle, Jr., West Wyoming, and Susan E. (James) Harkness, Manahawkin, NJ, grandchildren; Erica Pardini(Josh), Michael Suchoski (Abby), Sean Rozelle, Dylan Harkness(Annie), Tyler Harkness, Sarah Barnett(Thomas), great-grandchildren; Henry and Thomas and nieces and nephews.
Her family would like to thank the incredible staff at Serenity Hospice Services, Ann Chiogna, Ruth Ann (Yeisley) Ciciani, and Pam, for their endless caring and thoughtfulness. There will be a private service for her at her family's discretion. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Forty Fort United Methodist Church, 10 Yeager Ave. Forty Fort, PA. 18704.
