Patricia Rohrs, a longtime Claremont resident, died on March 17, 2016 after a short illness. She was 96.

She was born on September 11, 1919 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Freda Muly and Everette Peterson. She moved to Los Angeles when she was in high school and graduated with a degree in education from UCLA. She later earned a Master of Education from Claremont Graduate School.

She moved to Ontario to begin her teaching career, where she met her husband Fred Rohrs, a fellow teacher. They moved to Claremont with their three children in 1952. Mrs. Rohrs taught at Oakmont School for two years and then moved to Sycamore School, where she taught until 1981 when she retired. She loved being a teacher and continued to substitute teach, home teach and volunteer in classrooms. Over the years, she enjoyed many visits and letters from former students and their families.

Mrs. Rohrs was an avid gardener and an animal lover. When her children were growing up, she kept a menagerie of pets, including dogs, cats, goats, chickens, many rabbits and even a myna bird. Her daughter Pamela, who attended Sycamore while her mother taught at the school, recalls her mom bringing the myna bird, the goat and other animals to school to students’ delight. 

Patricia was creative and excelled at artistic pursuits like flower arranging and painting, taking classes in genres like Chinese brush painting and watercolor to hone her skills. She was also prolific at knitting and crocheting, making many blankets for her grandchildren and scarves for friends. As she got older and her eyesight failed, Mrs. Rohrs was no longer able to undertake larger pieces. Still, she would make “posies,” crocheting little flowers she presented as gifts to friends. She attended United Church of Christ in Claremont and was a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. “Her life was all about doing things for other people,” her loved ones shared.

Family wishes to extend their deep gratitude to the wonderful and caring staff at the Claremont Manor Assisted Living (The Lodge) as well as to staff at the Manor Care Center for all they did for Patricia during her recent illness.

She was predeceased by her husband, Fred Rohrs, and by her son, Fred Jr. She is survived by her daughters Susan Lightfoot and Pamela Kohler; her grandsons Charles Bentley and Christopher Kohler; and by two great-grandchildren, Korbin and Carter Kohler.

No services were held, per her request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.