Rhoda Elizabeth (Garber) Cressman, 93, died Jan. 28, 2026, at Woodcrest Senior Living Community in Scottdale, Pa. Born Dec. 24, 1932, in South Boston, Va., to the late John Fay and Anna May (Wenger) Garber, she was predeceased by Arnold Willis Cressman (1928-1998), her beloved husband of 42 years.

After residing in the Harrisonburg, Va., area for most of her childhood, the family moved to Alma, Ont., in 1946. Rhoda first met Arnold at Ontario Mennonite Bible School in Kitchener, Ont. She taught school for one year at Alden Christian Day School in Alden, N.Y. Later, while attending Eastern Mennonite College, Arnold’s courtship with her developed, and they married on July 13, 1956, in Burton, Ohio. After living in New Dundee, Ont., for a few years, they moved to Scottdale, Pa., in 1961, where they purchased what became a 62-acre farm they named Waldemere Ranch. They remained lifelong members of Scottdale Mennonite Church, where Rhoda taught Sunday school, oversaw the children’s library and enjoyed song leading, singing hymns, storytelling and performing in plays. 

With another couple, Arnold and Rhoda formed TourMagination in 1970. They led tours throughout Europe and other countries to study the Anabaptist heritage. Rhoda served as its executive administrative assistant for 14 years until Arnold’s failing health caused the couple to step away from the business in 1993. After Arnold’s passing in 1998, Rhoda remained at her beloved Waldemere until 2016.

She will be remembered for her creativity, wit, kindness, compassion, generosity and love of gardening and nature. She loved all children and dogs, family stories, reading, writing, singing and antiquing.

She is survived by three children, Jennifer Ruth Cressman (Gordon Baker) of Huntsville, Ont., Eric Arnold Cressman (Joyce) of Chatham, Mass., and Jonathan Robert Cressman (Kera) of Mount Pleasant, Pa.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother S. David Garber; sisters Lois Lehman (Milton), Esther Garber (Janet Worsham) and Rachel Garber (John Mackley); sisters-in-law Doris (Leonard) Garber and Edith (John) Garber; and brother-in-law John L. (Phoebe) Hershey. 

She was preceded in death by brothers Leonard W. Garber, John F. Garber Jr. and infant brother Ethan S. Garber; sister Phoebe R. Hershey; brother-in-law Wally Bless and sister-in-law Carol Garber.