Roberta L. Phillians Ross

One of the first women to work at Maple Creek Mine
Roberta L. Phillians Ross, 68, of Clarksville, died Tuesday, January 14, 2014, in Donnell House, Washington, following a five-month battle with cancer.
She was born March 17, 1945, in Brownsville, the only child of George H. and Blanche Shipley Phillians.
Mrs. Ross spent most of her life in Clarksville and was a 1963 graduate of Bethlehem-Center High School.
She graduated from Penn Commercial and worked for the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Md., in the late 1960s. In the late 1970s, she was one of the first women hired to work at Maple Creek Mine in Somerset Township, where she was a shuttle car operator.
In 1990, she graduated from Waynesburg College, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Upon graduation, she worked as a registered nurse at Greene County Memorial Hospital and was last employed at Country Meadows in South Fayette Township.
She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her friends, and she was a good storyteller. She loved to shop, sew and collect fabric. Over the years, she owned several dogs, Barfy, Cindy, Trevor and Oden, whom she loved very much.
Surviving are four daughters, Randi and husband Tim Marodi of Bentleyville, Kelly Ross and fiancé Etzer Seraphin of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Morgan and husband James Muhly of St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Taylor and husband Chris Callegari of Holly Springs, N.C. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Abigail and Katherine Marodi, James, Oliver, Benjamin and Hazel Muhly and Lola Callegari.
Friends are welcome from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville, 724-239-2255, where a service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 18, with the Rev. Andy Scott officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Washington County Health Center, 36 Old Hickory Ridge Road, Washington, PA 15301. Visit www.thompson-marodi.com to leave a condolence message, order flowers and share photos.