Sylvia Falk Rosenthal died early Sunday morning, January 4, 2026, in her long-time home city, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sylvia was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 24, 1926, to Ferd and Dorothy Falk. Ferd Falk had emigrated to Charlotte from Germany during the 1910's as the manager of a cotton mill for a German company owning what is now Parkdale Mills. Ferd brought Dorothy from Germany in the early 1920's, and in 1926 they had Sylvia, their only child.

Sylvia grew up in Charlotte, attending college at Greensboro School for Women, now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 1946, she met Charles Orkin Rosenthal, who was completing his World War II Army Air Force service. They were married in 1946, in Charlotte.

Shortly after their marriage, Charles and Sylvia moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Charles started the Oklahoma branch of the Orkin Exterminating Company which had been founded by his uncle, Otto Orkin. Their first of four sons, Stuart, was born in 1947, followed by Gary in 1949, Terry in 1952, and Ferd in 1956. In the late 1950's, Charles ended his association with Orkin and started his own pest control company, Charles Pest Control. Charles Pest Control is in business today, run by Terry, Sylvia's and Charles's third son.

Sylvia was a devoted spouse, mother, and community volunteer. She was committed to raising her growing family, doing so with energy and love. In 1980, Charles died suddenly at age 69, leaving Sylvia with her sons and many friends to provide loving support.

Sylvia had four sons (Stuart, Gary, Terry, and Ferd), eleven grandchildren (Stephen, married to Manj; Douglas, married to Elaine; Charles, married to Rebecca; David, Jennifer, Hannah, married to Anthony; Jessica, Rachel, Rebecca, Louis married to Caitlin; and Shaina. Additionally, there are seven great grandchildren-Sophia, Hudson, Sinclair, Elianna, Isabel, Leo, and Lilah. Sylvia is also survived by many devoted cousins and other relatives from all over the United States and Israel.

Sylvia was also a longstanding and active participant in numerous Tulsa organizations and groups. She and Charles were charter members of Meadowbrook Country Club, where Sylvia was the last surviving member of that original group. She played golf until she was ninety-five, always staying in the fairway, and the Club named the Sylvia Cup golf award in her honor in 2022. Sylvia was also an over fifty-year volunteer at St. Francis Hospital.

Sylvia was a talented dancer and performer, having aspired to be a Rockette. She displayed her dancing abilities at many performances at Congregation Temple Israel and other local venues. She and Charles were also talented ballroom dancers and loved traveling, visiting clubs, and wowing their fellow patrons with their skills. Sylvia's one disappointment may have been that most of her children lacked dancing talent.

Additionally, Sylvia and Charles were long-time active members of Congregations Temple Israel and B'nai Emunah in Tulsa. And as Charles's spouse, Sylvia was a full-fledged "lion tamer" in the Tulsa Lion's Club.
Until her 95th year, Sylvia would daily go to the mall and walk two miles with amazing rapidity on a path that took her past many merchants and salespeople. They all knew her and would shout out "hi Sylvia" as she passed on her daily routine.

Most wonderfully, Sylvia had a positive attitude and was never one to complain, especially as she aged. No matter what health setbacks she had in the last twelve months, she always responded "no complaints" when asked how things were. She was not afraid of dying, content with her well lived and lengthy life. The family would like to express great appreciation and admiration for the loving and skilled care the Zarrow Manor nurses and others provided Sylvia during this past year.

May Sylvia's memory be a blessing.

A graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery, 4161 E. Admiral Place, Tulsa, 74115, at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5th. Family and friends are welcome to join the service and afterwards for a reception and food at Zarrow Pointe Manor, 2025 E. 71st, Tulsa, OK.


Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151