03/10/2026
Rose Spataro Dillner
Our beloved, Rose Dillner passed peacefully at Menno Haven Brookview Personal Care in Chambersburg on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at the age of 95. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, amazing friend, lifelong educator and an extraordinary individual.
The youngest of three children, Rose was born on October 22, 1930 to Italian immigrants, James and Betty (Campo) Spataro in Slippery Rock, PA. She graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1948 and later attended Slippery Rock State Teachers College graduating in 1957 with a BS Degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Speech. She completed her graduate work from Penn State University. She was so proud to be a Slippery Rock alum. In 1990, her designed logo was chosen for the Slippery Rock University Centennial celebration. In 2009, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Slippery Rock University.
In high school, she was a majorette and spent summers working as a lifeguard at the local Slippery Rock Creek. Immediately following her college graduation, she began teaching PE at Conneaut Valley Junior Senior High School. At CV, she was the Varsity Volleyball Coach, Varsity/JV Cheerleading Coach and Director of the Precision Marching Group and majorettes. In 1959, after moving to Shippensburg, Rose taught one year at Waynesboro Senior High School where she also directed the band front, majorettes, varsity cheerleaders and coordinated the “All School Gym Show.” In 1960, she accepted a new teaching position in the Chambersburg School District with the Elementary Physical Education Department where she remained until she retired in June of 1988. During her tenure at Chambersburg, she was the Supervisor and Department Chairperson for the Elementary PE Department which included 19 elementary schools. In December 1988, she was recognized for meritorious and unselfish service to the profession, by receiving the Professional Honor Award from the PA State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Following her retirement from the public school system, she taught a class for Wilson College and for six years served as a Supervisor for Student Teachers at Wilson College.
Rose loved Shippensburg and had a strong desire to be involved in the community. Her service started with the Shippensburg Fair in 1960 where she served as the Program Committee Chair for 20 years. During her time with the fair, she started the craft and antique shows as well as the National Baton Twirling Contest. Then in 1980, she changed her focus to the community’s downtown heritage by bringing awareness to help preserve Shippensburg’s rich architectural structures. This preservation was the driving foundation for the Shippensburg Corn Festival which she was one of the original organizers and served on the committee for sixteen years. She was also the chairperson of the Shippensburg Gazebo Restoration Project. In the mid 1980s, she managed the local seasonal Farmer’s Market which was held on Saturday mornings at the fairgrounds. In 1990, her community involvements were recognized when she was awarded “Woman of the Year” by Beta Sigma Phi, recognizing a local woman who had made civic contributions to her community. In 1991, she organized the Desert Storm Peace Rally held in downtown Shippensburg and shortly after she chaired a 160 member coalition of picketers called SCRAP - Shippensburg Citizens Rally Against Po*******hy. She was named the Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary International local chapter. In 2007, she served as chairperson for the 50th Anniversary Night of Celebration of the Shippensburg Fair. She was the secretary for 250th Cumberland County Anniversary Celebration and served on the Cumberland County Planning Committee for 14 years.
Rose was involved in the local Young Farmers Organization and she and her husband Fred, founded the Farm City Week Banquet which has been an annual event for almost 70 years. She served on the Leadership Conference for PA Council of Cooperatives; she was a member of the Shippensburg Historical Society, Shippensburg Civic Club, and Franklin Country Retired Teachers Association. In 2000-2001, she was given the Community Service Award by that same chapter.
Rose was an active member of Christ United Methodist Church in Shippensburg, where she was a trustee, served on the altar committee and was the chairman of the Council of Ministries. She was a member of the administrative board and chaired several of the church’s projects including the centennial celebration, Colonial Christmas and the Annual Shippensburg Garden Tour.
While she loved the beauty of the valley, the community’s rich agricultural land and its historic roots, the opportunity to restore their own home was her pride and joy. Their historic farm was called, Blythstead. She adored showing guests the interior restoration as well as her magnificent gardens. In 1977, after years of hard work, Rose was able to get the homestead listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and she was even more pleased in 2021, when the farm was accepted into the Cumberland County Farm Preservation.
Rose loved to entertain, whether it was a large celebration, a tea for two or an unexpected visitor to the farm, she would welcome them to sit and enjoy her delicious cooking or a special sweet treat. She was an avid shopper frequenting her favorite antique stores, flea markets and yard sales…and she was always ready to “wheel and deal” for bargains. Most often she could be found outdoors in her many gardens surrounded by beautiful flowers. Using her love of gardening, she opened her own business in 1994, called “The Carriage House at Blythstead.” They would dry their own flowers and design them in antique containers. Their business took them around the east coast selling at a variety of shows and festivals.
Above all, Rose loved life; her faith was strong, she surrounded herself with important friendships, she voluntarily gave of her time and resources to serve, she found the ability to bring new events to the Shippensburg community and she smiled and made others smile with her.
Rose will be deeply missed by her family. She is survived by her three children. Sons, James (Jean) Dillner of Leola, PA, and John Dillner of Boulder, CO, and her daughter, Jodi (Keith) Ocker of Shippensburg. Four grandchildren, Jessica (Joel) Zeigler, Jonathan Dillner, Nathan (Kelsey) Ocker and Caleb Ocker. Three great-grandchildren, Josephine Zeigler, Jackson Zeigler, Krew Ocker and another great grandchild expected in July, as well, as numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Fred D. Dillner in 2011, and two brothers, Joseph Spataro and Harry Spataro.
The family wishes to publicly thank the dedicated staff, nurses, housekeepers and culinary team of Menno Haven Village Square for their genuine kindness and exceptional care that they provided to Rose over the past four years. Rose knew she was in a safe and loving environment and she verbalized many times how much she appreciated everyone who cared for her. We also thank Grane Hospice for working closely with Rose and her family during her final week of life.
A celebration of Rose Dillner’s life will be held at Christ United Methodist Church in Shippensburg on Saturday, March 14 at 11:00 am officiated by Pastor Christina Moyer. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church and Friday, March 13 from 5 pm - 7 pm at Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at Spring Hill Cemetery in Shippensburg after the service on Saturday with a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in memory of our beloved Rose to the Shippensburg Corn Festival, PO Box 704, Shippensburg, PA 17257 or Christ United Methodist Church, 47 E. King Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257.
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