A graduate of GHS Class of 1932 she worked for a short time as a practical nurse at the Greenville Hospital and then at a bank in Columbus, OH. In the mid 1930’s she worked at Brown and Brockmeyer in Dayton and in the late 1930’s for a stock broker in Orlando, FL and later one in Dayton, OH and then for Reynolds & Reynolds. In the early 40’s she worked at WPAFB as did her husband Gene who she married on the 4th of July 1942. She also worked at a war production plant in Dayton before moving to Salinas, CA when her husband was reassigned to Ft. Ord, CA. She returned to Greenville when he was deployed to the South Pacific during the war. In the early 1950’s the family lived in Odessa, TX for a year. On returning to Greenville, Mary started working at Fram Corp., where she continued to work until her retirement. She loved to travel and over the years she went to Europe, Canada, Mexico the South Pacific, the Philippines, Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, as well as almost all the states and numerous other places.
Mary was the oldest continuous member of the local Greenville Presbyterian Church having become a member in 1928. She was also the oldest continuous member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Greenville VFW Post 7262, having become involved when her husband was working with other veterans in the founding of the Greenville VFW Post after WWII.
She was preceded in death by her four sisters, Mouree G. Powell of Greenville, OH, Mayble P. (Powell) Wiebusch wife of Ralph S. Wiebusch of Greenville, OH, Helen M. (Powell) Webber wife of Joseph P. Webber of Dayton, OH, and Doris A. (Powell) Spencer wife of John Harold Spencer of Dunkirk, IN. Her husband Eugene F. Martin died in 1969. Her Great Aunt was Annie Oakley who died when Mary was 12.
She is survived by her son Richard E. Martin and his wife Jacqueline J. Martin and three Grand Children, Heather L. (Martin) Eckelberry, wife of John Eckelberry, Heidi A. (Martin) Horner, wife of David Horner and Zachary R. Martin, husband of Kaitlyn A. Martin. She has four Great Grand Children, Keelin, Ben, Daisy and Neil. She has a surviving niece, Almeda M. (Spencer) Lowry and a cousin Isabelle (Powell) Hufford.
The family wishes to extend their Sincere Thanks and Blessings, to her caretakers, members of the church, and to her friends and neighbors who have made her retirement years and life so enjoyable. They request that any donations or gifts be made to the Greenville, Presbyterian Church in Mary’s name.
The Viewing will be held at Tribute Funeral Home in Greenville, on June 1, 2018 from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m.
The Rev. John Person will officiate at the Memorial Service starting at 4 p.m.
Interment will follow in the Greenville Cemetery after the service.