Geralyn Winner Roden, 80

Geralyn Winner Roden, 80, of Huntingdon Valley, whose life revolved around her family, home and beautiful gardens, died Wednesday, Aug. 19, of a hemorrhage at Abington Hospice Warminster.

Born to Edwin and Pearl Winner in 1934 in Abington, Mrs. Roden graduated from Abington Friends School and attended Bennington College.

"Things were different back then," Mrs. Roden recalled in the 50th reunion book for Bennington's Class of 1956. "Parents just dropped us off and vanished after unloading our meager belongings. There was only one hall phone for the entire floor. We had a grand piano in every house and played bridge after dinner most nights. Never have I had so many grand slams."

She married Lincoln Roden III in 1955 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Whitemarsh. The couple lived in Huntingdon Valley for 60 years.

Before her marriage, she pursued a career in classical ballet with the Thomas Cannon Company. Her most memorable moment was performing in Sadler's Wells' Giselle, a romantic ballet in two acts, with Sir Robert Helpmann and Dame Margot Fonteyn. She also appeared with La Scala Opera Company of Philadelphia before going to Bennington.

"It was something she was so proud of," her husband said of her ballet career.

Mrs. Roden's love of family and home, though, was the centerpiece of her life.

"When her family was gathered around her, Geralyn was her happiest. She was a hardworking, loyal, vibrant, and intelligent individual who exuded elegance, grace, and beauty in person and soul," said her relatives in a remembrance.

A lover of nature, Mrs. Roden created stunning perennial, azalea, and rhododendron gardens on her property, and had a special flair for floral arrangement. She was deeply involved in the interior decoration of the Roden home.

H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, owner and publisher of The Inquirer, called Mrs. Roden "a longtime friend and good neighbor."

"Not only was she attractive and vivacious and witty, she was also wonderful to her husband," Lenfest said. "I remember a tour she gave in the spring of her rhododendrons and azaleas. They were beautiful. She loved beauty in all respects."

Mrs. Roden had been a member of Huntingdon Valley Country Club since 1944, first through her father and later through her husband. In the 1940s and 1950s, the club did not admit women unless sponsored by a man.

She also volunteered for the American Red Cross and was a member of St. Mark's Reformed Episcopal Church in Rydal, the Old York Road Historical Society in Jenkintown, and the Fan Back Questers Group. "Fan back" refers to a type of Windsor chair.

Besides her husband, she is survived by daughters Melanie Winner Roden Bartlett, Robin Halley Roden Jones, and Valerie-Clark Roden; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A visitation is to begin at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, in the lower level of St. Mark's Reformed Episcopal Church, 1162 Beverly Rd., Rydal, Pa. 19046. A funeral service is at 10 a.m. Interment is private.

Contributions may be made to the Old York Road Historical Society, 515 Meetinghouse Rd., Rydal, Pa. 19046, or St. Mark's Reformed Episcopal Church at the address above.