Rhoma Lea Van De Mark Berlin

Rhoma Lea (Van De Mark) Berlin, an amazing wife, mother and friend, age 97, passed away Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Kobacker House, after an 18-month battle with acute myeloid leukemia. She passed peacefully with family at her side. She is now in the presence of her precious Lord and Savior, whom she loved with all her being.

Born December 18, 1927, in Piqua OH, to Marquis DeWeese and Margaret Elizabeth Van De Mark, Rhoma graduated from Piqua Central High School in 1945; attended Miami University in Oxford OH, where she was Desk Editor of the Miami student newspaper, chosen for Cwen of Freshmen Girls' Honorary, and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She moved to Columbus OH in 1946 with her family, transferring to The Ohio State University, and graduated in June 1950.

During college, she was employed at The Hilltop Record, and The Columbus Dispatch advertising department, where she met her future husband, Roger Miles Berlin.

After college, she worked for Proctor & Gamble, traveling the U.S. and Canada in their Market Research Department. After her marriage in 1952, she became Comptroller's Assistant at Battelle Memorial Institute, until starting a family.

Always involved in Roger's construction business, in 1964, she co-founded their Clintonville property management company, Roundtree Rentals. After Roger's death in 1999, she continued to work with her two sons in the family ventures until her passing.

Roger and Rhoma resided in Muirfield Village, Dublin OH, for 33 years. Mom was a resident of Upper Arlington OH, since 2009.

Always a consistent supporter of many local Arts organizations, Rhoma was currently active in the Canterbury Unit of the Columbus Symphony, the Women's Board of the Columbus Museum of Art, Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club, Golden Arrow Society, and a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church.

One of her favorite projects was the Old Fort Piqua Hotel, in Piqua OH, which was beautifully restored to a new community library. She was a faithful blood donor to the American Red Cross for over 45 years.

Rhoma is preceded in death by her parents; sister Margaret Eikost and her husband, Robert Eikost; brother Daniel Clay Van De Mark and his wife, Patricia Rahall; grandson Casey Berlin; and loving husband of 47 years, Roger Miles Berlin.

Mom is survived by children, Brook (Colleen) Berlin; Drew (Betsy) Berlin; Gretchen (Russ) Randall; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; countless friends and relatives; and her special friend and assistant, Peggy Armstrong, for well over 40 years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Columbus Symphony, 55 East State Street, Columbus OH 43215; and Kobacker House, 800 McConnell Drive, Columbus OH 43214.

Funeral arrangements are through Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus OH 43221, and are as follows:

Visitation: Wednesday, February 26, 10:30 am – Noon, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2070 Ridgecliff Road, Columbus OH 43221. Mom’s children will receive family and friends before the service.

Celebration of Life Service: Wednesday, February 26, Noon, at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Service shall follow visitation. The Reverend Joel A. Esala officiating.

Special Luncheon: Wednesday, February 26, 1:15 pm – 3:30 pm, at Scioto Country Club, 2196 Riverside Drive, Columbus OH 43221. All family and friends are invited and encouraged to attend.

The past couple years had been challenging for Mom, although you would have never seen it in her demeanor. At 97 years, she was in remarkably good health and had a social calendar that would rival anyone half her age. Our family would like to thank all those very special people who helped Mom through this time.