Rita Ruth Stiff

Rita Ruth (Rollman) Stiff passed away in her sleep on November 11, 2026 at the age of 84 from congestive heart failure. Formerly of Topton, she had been a resident of Lehigh Commons, Macungie, PA for the last year.

Born June 4, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland, Rita was the daughter of the late Jacob L. and Verna M. (Fritch) Rollman. She was predeceased by her siblings Fay (Rollman) Hill and Edward "Larry" Rollman. In addition to her devoted husband of 58 years, Larry Van Stiff, Rita is survived by her son Deron Michael and his wife Sue J. (Hellwig) Stiff of Alburtis, PA, her daughter Hadyn Joy and her husband Dr. David P. Boyte of Cary, NC as well as three grandsons, Xiabe, Salem, and Cedar. Rita is also survived by 4 nieces and 4 nephews around the country, and numerous cousins throughout Berks County, with whom she shared very close ties.

Born and educated in Baltimore, MD, Rita graduated from Kenwood High School's business department in 1960. She worked as a secretary for USF&G insurance and then for the U.S. Army at Edgewood Arsenal, MD where she met her husband Larry on a blind date while he was a U.S. Army lieutenant stationed nearby at Aberdeen Proving Ground. As a young woman, Rita was very involved in the Lutheran church, performed in plays and musicals including Oklahoma and Carousel, and sang with Peabody Conservatory's community chorus for 5 years.

After they married in Baltimore in 1968, Larry and Rita lived in California and Illinois, then settled in Topton, PA where they lived for over 50 years. Rita taught Sunday School, babysat pre-school children, volunteered at District-Topton Elementary School, and enthusiastically encouraged her children's and grandchildren's interests. In addition to visiting tea rooms with the Topton Tea Ladies, Rita enjoyed swimming, gardening, scrapbooking, collecting pussy cats and mermaids, attending live concerts and Broadway shows, travelling, playing pinochle with her neighborhood card club, and rooting for the Baltimore Orioles. Rita was a member of St. Paul's UCC in Fleetwood for over 30 years.

A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate Rita's life will be held on Monday, November 23, 2026, 11:00 a.m. in Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, 50 Luther Drive, Mertztown. Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the church. The family requests that friends and family in attendance wear bright colors in remembrance of Rita's vibrant life.

Contributions in Rita's memory may be considered to The Sanctuary at Haafsville, 901 Nestle Way, Breinigsville, PA 18031 or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, checks to: Breakthrough T1D, Formerly JDRF, PO Box 5042, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5042.

Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc., Topton, is in charge of arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting Rita's obituary tribute page at www.ludwickfh.com.