Estelle Frankl of State College, PA, age 98, died on April 29, 2026. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, she was the daughter of Joseph and Rose Marder. On August 26,1951 she married Daniel Frankl who preceded her in death on June 1, 2003. She is survived by a daughter, Phyllis Frankl; a son Joseph Frankl and his wife Pamela; grandchildren Leah (Brett), Aaron, and Paula; and great-grandchildren Eli and Logan.
After graduating from New York University in 1948 with a degree in chemistry, Estelle was employed at Columbia University on a research project sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission. It was at Columbia that she met Dan who was a graduate student at the time. After living in Bayside, New York for twelve years, they moved to State College when Dan accepted a faculty position in the Physics Department at Penn State. She remained in State College for over 60 years, aside from sabbaticals in England and San Diego, then relocated to New York to be closer to her daughter in her final years.
Estelle taught math and science at Tyrone Area High School in 1968–69. Later she was employed as a researcher and lab manager at The Human Performance Lab, The Air Environment Center, and the Department of Chemical Engineering, all at Penn State.
She was a docent at the Palmer Museum of Art. She was a member of Congregation Brit Shalom and Hadassah. She was an avid duplicate bridge player and achieved the rank of Ruby Life Master. She enjoyed reading both fiction and non-fiction and travelled widely.
A graveside ceremony will be held at Centre County Memorial Park at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the charity of your choice.