Ursula Elisabeth Rothenberger

Ursula Elisabeth Rothenberger, 86, of Carlisle, PA, passed away on Monday, July 28, 2025, in her home. She was born January 9, 1939, in Wurzburg, Germany, to the late Paul and Greta (Imhof/Koenig) Wallach and was the widow of Thomas R. Rothenberger.

Ursula enjoyed gardening, feeding birds, cooking German food, and watching soccer; especially the World Cup and rooting for Germany and was an avid coffee drinker. She loved spending as much time as she could with her family. During her younger life, she was an adventurous spirit and, among other activities, went rock-climbing, deep-sea diving and dancing. As she grew older, she was a voracious reader, with a love for military/spy/espionage novels. W.E.B. Griffin and Tom Clancy were favorites that in some cases she read multiple times. She enjoyed playing games with her family and was not to be trifled with when it came to both UNO and Scrabble. She was always quick to point out she didn’t cheat, but she had a knack for getting out of tightest situations and had the right card or word always at hand.

She also enjoyed a variety of television programs over the years and was an avid fan of NCIS, CSI, Blue Bloods, Homicide and other military and crime-based shows. She also enjoyed many movies including her favorite movie (it’s a military film!, noticing a theme?) The Enemy Below with Robert Mitchum, anything with Paul Newman (her favorite actor) and later The Scent of a Woman with Al Pacino (the only film she ever watched back-to-back, that tango got her!). She had a broad range of musical tastes, but her favorite song of all time was Blue Bayou by Linda Rondstadt. Please think of her whenever it comes on the radio or play now if you would like to think of her.

Surviving are her children, Thomas E. Rothenberger (Amy) of Carlisle and Tanya C. Rothenberger (John Barnett) of Carlisle; grandchildren, Natasha Rothenberger (James Smith), Sean McGinnis (Jess), and Melissa McGinnis (Mitchell); great grandchildren, Weston Smith, Sunnie Smith, Harper McGinnis and Kellan McGinnis; and brother-in-law, Mirko Milesan. In addition to her parents and husband, Ursula was preceded in death by her son, Timothy J. Rothenberger; step-daughter, Joan (McGinnis) Grasha; and sister, Erica Milesan.

Graveside Service will be held Friday, August 8, 2025, at 10: 30 AM in the Fort Indiantown Gap Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Rd, Annville, PA 17003 with Father Chiedozie F. Ononuju officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Arrangements are being handled by Hollinger Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., Mt. Holly Springs. Visit HollingerFuneralHome.com to offer condolences to the family.