The Rev. Martin M. Roth

On Friday afternoon, December 26, 2025, The Rev. Martin M. Roth, 81, of the Colony at St. Paul’s and formerly of Plum St., Greenville, died peacefully in The Villas at St. Paul’s with his wife holding his hand.

He was born in Connellsville, PA, on March 25, 1944, the son of The Rev. Martin J. Roth and Marie Kathleen Pritts Roth. On May 27, 1967, he and Sarah (Sally) Louise Fox were married. They had met as students at Thiel College in Greenville.

Pastor Roth graduated from Allegheny High School, Northside Pittsburgh, and Thiel College. He attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 1970 and a Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1974. He was ordained to the Holy Office of the Ministry of Word and Sacrament within the Lutheran Church on August 1, 1971. Thiel College awarded him an honorary degree in 2006.

A dedicated parish pastor, he considered it a high privilege to minister to and with the people of the congregations he served. He was called to Trinity Lutheran Church, Smethport, PA, and Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Port Allegany, PA (1971–1977), Messiah Lutheran Church, Wesleyville (Erie), PA (1977–1986), and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Greenville (1986 until retirement in 2009).

Pastor Roth was especially respected for being a patient listener who was able to see in people gifts and abilities they themselves didn’t realize they possessed and to challenge them to move beyond their comfort zone.

Beyond his work in the congregation, he participated in the life of the larger church, both ecumenically and within his own denomination, and in the life of the community. He was deeply involved in the organization of the Good Shepherd Center and served on its board for five years. He had served on Thiel College’s Board of Trustees and on the board of the then Horizon Health System, Greenville, and its ethics committee. As a representative of the hospital board, he was able to participate in UPMC ethics seminars. It was particularly gratifying to him that this led to a vision and then the establishment of a Community Medical Ethics Project, first as cooperation between Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and the hospital, then expanding to include Thiel College and St. Paul’s Senior Living Community. This program continues today as an effort to provide public education on current medical issues and their attendant ethical considerations.

In addition, he loved music and art, reading and watching mysteries, and learning about his Transylvanian-Saxon family heritage.

Pastor Roth is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sally; a brother and his wife, Marvin and Vicki Roth, Pittsburgh; nephews Luke Roth, Pittsburgh, and Michael Roth and his wife Gina and their sons Myles, Roman, and Wesley, South Park, PA; sister-in-law Peggy Fox and her husband Ian MacNiven, Athens, NY; brother-in-law Michael Fox, Glenside, PA and his daughters Elizabeth, Susanna, and Carolyn and their families of eastern Pennsylvania.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother-in-law, Robert B. Sennish.

Services:

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, 1/3/26, in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Greenville, with Bishop Kristen Papson and Rev. Brenda Martin officiating. Family and friends will be received from 3:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, 1/2/26, in Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. 366-368 S. Main St. Greenville. Inurnment will be in the Columbarium of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Memorial Contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Organ Fund, 1 Trinity Pl. Greenville, PA 16125; St. Paul’s Good Samaritan Fund, 339 E. Jamestown Rd. Greenville, PA 16125; The Good Shepherd Center, 10 N. Water St. Greenville, PA 16125; or The Salvation Army, 288 Main St. Greenville, PA 16125.

Online visitors are welcome to sign the guest book and view a Video Tribute at www.loutzenhiserfuneralhome.com.