Jean Marie Wilson Roth, beloved wife, mother and friend, died at Brethren Village on Wednesday. She was 86.

Jean was the wife of Luther Harry Roth, the love of her life, whom she met on a date arranged by his brother. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in October.

A long-time resident of Millersville, Jean embodied a remarkable combination of optimism, creativity, energy and compassion — a reflection of her strong Christian faith.

She selflessly drew on her considerable skills in music, teaching, sewing and cooking to help both friends and strangers, from Vietnamese refugees to shut-ins to Fresh Air children, without hesitation.

Strangers didn't stay strangers for long, though. With a keen sense of humor, a flair for hospitality and a frequent smile, Jean made friends easily.

And once someone became a friend of Jean's, they were always her friend, no matter the circumstances. Jean was a pillar of support – spiritually and tangibly — when someone she knew ran into tough times.

Jean had a special place in her heart for children, both inside and outside her family. She loved and encouraged her own four children and four grandchildren, as well as countless other children. Whether they needed clothing, food, help with homework or just a hug, Jean was there for them.

Jean was born in Wyoming, PA, a small town in Luzerne County, on Dec. 21, 1927, the daughter of the late George Keifer Wilson and Minnie Naylor Wilson.

When Jean was about 10, Mr. Wilson insisted his daughter begin piano lessons, using an old, out-of-tune upright piano in the living room. Jean was less than enthused about practicing. But she soon discovered that she could make it sound like she was practicing by mindlessly repeating the same scale, which she could do while reading a book.

Her scheme, however, was spotted by her mother. Her father asked Jean why she wasn't taking her piano seriously. Jean replied, "If you had to practice on this rinky-dink old thing, you wouldn't want to practice either." A few days later, Jean came home to find a baby-grand piano. Jean went on to play piano for many events at her high school, and played glockenspiel in the marching band.

At 16, Jean landed a job as organist at a tiny Presbyterian church in nearby Pittston, a trolley ride away. She quickly found that rehearsals with the choir, full of Welsh coal miners, routinely ran late because of their passion for singing "just one more."

After studying piano at Scranton Conservatory and graduating from Wyoming High School in a class of only 50 students, Jean took business classes at Wyoming Seminary. She was working in the office of Sordoni Construction in Forty Fort when she met Luther.

Jean married Luther in 1950. The young couple lived briefly in York, where Luther found a job teaching high-school math. When Luther got a job at Hamilton Watch in 1951, they moved to Lancaster.

In early 1952, the couple decided to buy a house. After a long search, they found one in Millersville that was both affordable and had a living room big enough for Jean's piano, which she had left in Wyoming.

Jean looked to boost the family's income by taking a "temporary" job as the organist for First United Methodist Church in Millersville. That became a permanent job lasting 28 years, with Jean and Luther becoming active members who served in many volunteer roles.

Besides playing the organ, Jean directed the church's cherub choir, which she named "The Joyful Noise." She also co-founded a sewing group at the church that made clothes to give to low-income women and children, and was active in the church's chapter of United Methodist Women.

Jean was busy outside the church too, as a volunteer with Millersville Meals on Wheels and a founding member of the Millersville Women's Club, serving as its first president.

In 1984, Jean wrote a five-minute speech about Harriet Lane, the niece of President James Buchanan, for a statewide General Federation of Women's Clubs competition, finishing second. But that wasn't the last time she spoke about Harriet Lane.

Soon after the state contest, the Millersville Women's Club needed a program for a meeting. Jean stepped in, expanding her speech into a one-woman show, "Harriet Lane: America's Princess," with Jean as a 70-year-old Harriet Lane reminiscing about her life. Jean ended up presenting the show dozens of times to schools and community groups across the region.

Jean also had a career in education. She joined the School District of Lancaster in 1975 as an instructional aide at Lafayette Elementary working with school-aged refugees from South Vietnam. Later, Jean served as a library aide in various elementary schools and a resource-room aide at Reynolds Junior High. She retired in 1990.

In addition to her husband, Jean is survived by four children: Barry Roth, husband of Annette Tonell, of Placitas, NM; Deb Bierly, wife of Randy Bierly, of Shillington; Alison Mekeel, wife of Tim Mekeel, of Lancaster; and Becky Jones, wife of Cliff Jones, of Joppatowne, MD. Jean is also survived by four grandchildren: Karl Bierly, husband of Pamela Bierly, of Manchester, MD; David Bierly, husband of Sarah Bierly, of Bensalem; Laura Bierly, wife of Captain Joshua Dietrich (USAF), of Portales, NM; and Colin Mekeel, of Lancaster. Jean was predeceased by one brother, Robert Wilson, of Wyoming, PA.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM at First United Methodist Church, 121 N. George St., Millersville, PA on Saturday, March 15. Friends will be received beginning at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Organ Fund at First United Methodist Church, Millersville; the Philhaven Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, P.O. Box 550, Mt. Gretna, PA 17064.