Rodney W. Moll

Rodney Willis Moll was born at home in Pennsburg PA to Catherine Christman Moll and Horace Koch Moll. He was the fourth of five siblings and a cousin in a large extended family. His early schooling was at the two-room Haring’s School, which he attended sometimes willingly, and sometimes after his mother pried his grasp from the shutters and sent him down the road. He was an above average student, goofing around in school and passing science courses with the help of his cousin and lifelong friend Pete Gendebien. The high school barn parties were epic events and are occasionally discussed to this day. After graduating from Upper Perkiomen High School in 1961, Rodney decided to devote his life to education, enrolling in the teacher’s education program at Kutztown State College. There he met the love of his life, Suzanne Huber Moll, whom he married in 1967. The young couple moved next door to Rodney’s parents’ house, had two daughters, Alison and Lori, and moved ¼ mile down the road a few years later. There they remained for decades. Rodney earned two Master’s degrees from West Chester State College and built a rewarding career at Emmaus Junior High School, first as a social studies teacher, and then as a guidance counselor. He relished the challenge and excitement of working with young teens during a tumultuous period in their lives. He extended this same enthusiasm to raising his daughters, attending their concerts and sporting events and grilling them about their friends. Rodney was dedicated to contributing positively to his community. For many years he was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church in Niantic, singing bass in the choir, teaching catechetical classes, and participating on the Church Council. He served eight years on the Board of Supervisors for Upper Hanover Township and was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of the Upper Perkiomen Valley. He helped organize the East Penn Schoolmen’s Club and served one year as President. Rodney retired from teaching in 1997 and spent the next year caring for Lori during her battle with leukemia. Following her death, he spent increasing amounts of time in northern New York on his cousin Pete’s dairy farm. He drove tractors in the fields, helped care for the property, and made wooden signs in his shop. He became “Uncle Rod” to Pete’s grandchildren, devotedly attending their concerts and sporting events, and predictably grilling them about their social lives. During the annual July 4th extravaganza, Rodney umpired the softball game, refereed the canoe races, and emceed the Uncle Chester Christman Hoops Tournament with colorful commentary. During the winters, he and Suzie spent four months in Kissimmee FL, where they were blessed to further increase their circle of close friends. Together the group explored Disney theme parks, shared drinks and dinners, played Mexican Train, and pranked one another with creativity and aplomb. In recent years, as Rodney slowed down, he took increasing pleasure in surveying the farm operations in his 4-wheel cruiser, making dinners for friends and family, offering scenic tours of the St. Lawrence River on his pontoon boat, and working on his model train layout with his grandson Micah. Until the very end, Rodney enjoyed morning coffee with Pete and shared meals with his beloved Suzie. Rodney is survived by his wife Suzie Moll, his daughter Alison Moll, his son-in-law Fred Benjamin, his grandson Micah Benjamin, his sister Marlene DeLong, his brother John Moll, his sister-in-law Sandy Moll, the beloved Gendebien family, and many other friends and family, located near and far. Memorial services will be held in Niantic PA during the spring and in Lisbon NY during the July 4th weekend. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or to The Love of Lori Trust Fund, 790 Five Mile Line Rd, Ogdensburg NY 13669.