We Remember Dorothy Rothermel

Dorothy kept a strong connection with the church of her youth, and later of her retirement years.  Below is the obituary which she prepared herself.  Dorothy’s family and the church office staff filled in the gaps which were needed after her death.

She has designated the Congregational Unit of the Women of the ELCA of MLLC as the recipient of memorial gifts.  She was an active participant in this ministry area.

You can send these by mail to the church, deliver in person, or give through the secure giving page of our web site.  Here is a link to that page:  click link.  On the page where you select where to give and how much, note there is a line for “Memorial Gifts”. Included is a memo box.  Note in that box “Dorothy Rothermel”, and the gift will be passed along to the right account.

The church address:  Martin Luther Lutheran Church; P O BOX 362; Carmine, TX 78932-0362.   Telephone: 979-278-3388

 

Obituary for Dorothy Rothermel

Dorothy Geraldine Noak Rothermel

 December 20, 1929  – March 1, 2019

Dorothy Geraldine Noak Rothermel was born December 20, 1929 in Carmine, Texas to Herbert and Clara Keng Noak.  She was baptized May 18, 1930 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine by Rev. H. Brunotte.  She was confirmed February 27, 1944 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church.  Her confirmation verse was Isaiah 54:10:  For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that  hath mercy on thee.  She was united in marriage with Thomas Hugh Rothermel, of Burton, Texas, on December 28, 1947 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church by Rev. Leo Simon.

 

Dorothy attended Carmine Elementary School and graduated from Round Top-Carmine High School in 1947.  She attended Blinn College in Brenham, Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, and graduated from the University of Houston in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Vocational Home Economics.  She also did Graduate work at the University of Houston and at the Sacred Heart Dominican College in Houston.

 

Dorothy worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone, in Houston and New Braunfels, as a Switchboard Operator.  After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree, she began her teaching career with Pearland Independent School District in 1961.  In 1963, Dorothy started teaching at Pasadena High School in the Pasadena Independent School District.  Her career at Pasadena High School lasted 24 years where she served as Department Chairman and Classroom Teacher in the Vocational Homemaking Department.  After retirement, she substituted at Round Top-Carmine High School for several years.

 

Dorothy held memberships in the Texas State Teachers Association, Vocational Homemaking Teachers of Texas, Texas Retired Teachers Association as a Life Member, Washington County Genealogical Society, the German-Texas Heritage Society, Brenham Area Retired School Personnel Association and the Texas Wendish Heritage Society.

 

Dorothy loved to research and write articles on the family history of the Noak, Keng, Hinze, Rothermel and Vogelsang families.  She served on various committees helping to further her interest in genealogy, including the Fayette County History Book and the 100^th Anniversary History Book of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine.

 

While living in Pasadena, Texas, Tom and Dorothy were members of Sharon Lutheran Church, but after retiring and moving to Carmine, Texas, they became members at Martin Luther Lutheran Church.  While as a member of Martin Luther, Dorothy served as President of the Ladies Aid, Secretary for the Church Council, and Secretary of the General Board for the Women of ELCA.

 

Dorothy died March 1, 2019 at the age 89 at HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast in Pasadena, Texas.

 

Dorothy is survived by her Daughters: Connie Sue Rothermel Bird and husband, Marshall, of Splendora, and Pamela Rothermel Guthrie and husband, James, of Pasadena; Granddaughters: Rachel Diana Bird Poffinbarger and husband, James, of Splendora, Johanna Ruth Bird, of Houston, and Moriah Ashlee Guthrie, of Pasadena; Great-Granddaughters: Camille Poffinbarger, Corinne Poffinbarger, Cristin Poffinbarger, all of Splendora; Sisters-in-Law: Dorothy Ann Rothermel, of Brenham, and Joan Rothermel, of Brenham; Nieces and Nephews: James D. Rothermel, Jr. and wife, Cindy, of Alvin, Donald H. Rothermel and wife, Debbie, of Katy, Ray Thaler and wife, Linda, of Brenham, Annette Thaler Turner, of Brenham, Michael Rothermel and wife, Cheryl, of Eugene, Oregon, Laurie Rothermel Satterfield and husband, Bill, of Elgin, Charles Landua, of Burton, Laurell Landua Smith, of Burton, Lavonne Landua Spacek and husband, Larry, of Austin; and numerous Great-Nieces and Great-Nephews.

 

She was preceded in death by her Husband, Thomas Hugh Rothermel; her Parents, Herbert and Clara Keng Noak; her Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law, Bailleux and Nathalie Rothermel; Brothers-in-Law: James D. Rothermel, and William A. Rothermel; and Brothers-in-Law and Sisters-in-Law: Charles (Dick) and Nathalie Rothermel Landua, and Raymond and Annie Laurie Rothermel Thaler.

 

Serving as Pallbearers are James D. Rothermel, Jr., Ray Thaler, Larry Spacek, and James Poffinbarger.

 

Honorary Pallbearers are Donald H. Rothermel, Charles Landua, Michael Rothermel, Bill Satterfield, Milton and Evelyn Haack, Arnold and Magdalene Knuppel, and Pat and Diana Armentrout.

 

Memorials may be directed to WELCA Martin Luther Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 362, Carmine, TX 78932.

 

She asked that this poem be printed in the bulletin as well:

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Oftimes He weaveth sorrow,
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I, the underside.

Not till the loom in silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
– Author Unknown