Roma Feltner, born on September 17, 1930, to Otto Erben and wife Emilie Weidner Erben entered eternal life with her heavenly Father on February 11, 2019. Roma, the youngest in a family of six siblings, was raised on the family ranch near Spring Branch. She attended Sherwood School that was located on land her father donated to the Comal County School system. Her grandparents, the Weidners, lived next door on the ranch where Smithson Valley Middle School is now located. Roma's mother passed away while Roma was still a young teenager causing her to leave school and take over the operation of the Erben home to help support her dad and brothers. As a young adult she dedicated her life to Christ, beginning with her baptism and confirmation. She was an active member of the First Protestant Church in New Braunfels, where she taught Sunday School for many years. Roma worked at Air Maid Hosiery and Guaranty State Bank.
In 1966 Roma married Carl Feltner. They established a home for themselves in which they lived most of their married life. Both Roma and Carl were active in their respective churches; however, they felt if they were going to be a family it would be ideal to worship together. After deciding to become a Lutheran, Roma received instruction and joined Carl at Cross Lutheran. On Christmas Eve 1968, they grew their family when Bryan Keith came into their lives. Twenty months later their family grew again when Stephen Troy joined the family. Rather than having someone else raise her children, Roma and Carl felt it beneficial for her to be a stay-at-home mother. Along with other great neighborhood moms, Roma served as a shuttle driver for many trips to school, Landa Park swimming pool, and Camp Warnecke. Roma also supported various sporting activities for her sons, and later volunteered for various high school activities they pursued. Roma, a faithful Sunday School Teacher at Cross Lutheran, also served the Youth Group, Altar Guild, and Vacation Bible School.
In the early 1990's Carl and Roma moved their membership to Grace Lutheran Church in San Marcos. At Grace, Roma was an active member of the LWML. In 2002 the Feltners returned their membership to Cross Lutheran in New Braunfels and have been faithful members since that time.
Roma was preceded in death by her parents Otto and Emilie Erben; her sister Ada Fries (Raymond); sister Ottie Kuehler (Erhard); sister Tosca Fries (Vernon); brother Roland Erben (Gladys); and brother Chester Erben (Frances). She is survived by her husband Carl, her two sons Bryan of New Braunfels and Stephen of Austin, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 15 from 5-8pm at Zoeller Funeral Home. Services will be held on Saturday, February 16 at 11am at Cross Lutheran Church, with reception to follow at Cross Lutheran and graveside services following the reception at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park at 1:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations made in Roma’s memory to Cross Lutheran Church, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, or American Parkinson Disease Association.
