Delores Voytko

Delores Voytko (Dolly) died on June 21, 2026 at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center in Columbia, MD. She is survived by her daughters, Kim and Kellie Coble, her sisters Caroline Jurich and Christine Williams (Eric Williams), and her brothers Joseph Voytko (Hal Bruce), Richard Voytko (Nora Voytko), and Dennis Voytko (Barbara Voytko). She was preceded in death by her parents William and Margaret Voytko and brothers James and Raymond Voytko.

Dolly was a trailblazer and a fighter throughout her life; if someone told her something couldn’t be done, her motto was “I’ll show you.” She poured her heart into everything she did and made a difference in many people’s lives.

Dolly was born and raised in Johnstown, PA. She was the first in her family to attend college, working her way through to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Slippery Rock State College in Pennsylvania in 1963 and a Master’s Degree in Physical Education from Ithaca College in New York in 1968. She was an outstanding and beloved educator and coach, having taught at Donegal High School (Mt. Joy, PA), Towson State College (Towson, MD), Academy of the Holy Names (Silver Spring, MD), and Carroll Community College (Westminster, MD). She developed and taught a variety of health and physical education courses, including Lifetime Fitness and Wellness, Human Sexuality, and an extremely popular and ground-breaking Women’s Health course. She coached field hockey, volleyball, and gymnastics, not only leading her teams to victory but supporting and mentoring them. Dolly was also a member of the Society for Women’s Health Research.

Dolly was an elite athlete and had an adventurous spirit. She played competitive field hockey at the highest level with the Mideast team and led girl scouts on camping and canoe trips. She loved to dance, go on roadtrips, create innovative “projects,” and had an infectious sense of humor. She had a lifelong love of the water which she instilled in her daughters; whether it was swimming in the pool, going to the beach, or walking by the lake.

Dolly moved to Columbia, MD in 1968. She and her then-spouse (Sonny Coble) were among the original Columbia residents (“Pioneers”). She believed in the vision of Columbia, raising her daughters there. She was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center. She had an enduring faith in God that saw her through life’s many challenges and joys.

Visitation will be held at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Road., Columbia, MD 21044, US, on July 2, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by the Funeral Service at the same location on July 2, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

A Committal Service will take place at Columbia Memorial Park, 12005 Clarksville Pike, Columbia, MD 21029, US, on July 2, 2026, from 1:45 pm to 2:00 pm.