Rebecca Leone Roeder Gehman of Bergton, VA, 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 13, 2026, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, VA.

Rebecca ("Becky") was born July 8, 1938 in Allentown, PA, to the late Leon and Esther Roeder. She was also predeceased by her siblings and their spouses: Edwin Roeder (Helen), Arline Nelson (Darvin), and Evangeline Roeder. She grew up on a small farm in Bethlehem, PA.

Becky married the love of her life, Dr. Linford K. Gehman, on June 6, 1970. Linford passed away in 2023. Before they were married, he served in medical missions overseas while she stayed back in PA working as a nurse. During that time, she wrote a letter to him nearly every day for over 4 years. They had two children: William Gehman (Melissa) of Bergton and Kathleen Alderfer (Douglas) of Broadway. Becky adored her three grandsons: Bryce Gehman (Kaylyn) of Broadway, Isaac Alderfer of Seward, AK, and Benjamin Alderfer of Harrisonburg. She was excited to welcome a great-granddaughter last year, Lainey Gehman. Becky is also survived by several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and nieces and nephews, as well as her life-long best friends: Jean Miller and the late Barbara Miller.

After graduating from Hellertown High School in 1956, Becky went to nursing school at St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated as an RN in the class of 1959. She furthered her education at Moravian College and Muhlenberg College with several semesters of English and Spanish courses. She was the head nurse in the labor and delivery unit at St. Luke's Hospital until 1970. When she moved to VA, she worked as a nurse together with Linford in their medical clinic in Bergton, serving the community for 45 years.

With an early love of music, Becky studied piano first from her mother, and then at Moravian College and Bethlehem Conservatory Music. She played piano for her church in Bethlehem, and then played organ and piano at Valley View Mennonite Church in Criders, where she was a member for many years and taught Sunday school to children. She also taught piano to both children and adults.

Becky completed the Laubach course for reading and volunteered her time as a tutor to help adults learn to read. She particularly enjoyed teaching English to her neighbors from Vietnam. Her hobbies included reading, writing letters and sending cards, photography, gardening, needlework, traveling, and taking walks with her beloved husband. She had a fun sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. Becky adored animals, and always had a cat or dog by her side throughout her life.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Crestwood VMRC who graciously cared for her while she lived her final years in memory care, as well as First Choice Hospice. We also wish to thank Pastor Mike Shenk for his visits.

Visitation hours will be on Friday, April 17 from 6-8 PM at Grandle Funeral Home, Broadway. Burial will be private. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 18 at 11:00 AM at Valley View Mennonite Church in Criders, followed by a meal. The service will be recorded and made available for those who cannot be there.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity (Central Valley Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 245, Bridgewater, VA 22812), Becky's favorite charity.