The Life of Mary Elizabeth Martin
“A Celebration of Betty Martin’s Life”
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” (Newkirk) Martin, of West Chester, PA died peacefully at Meadowood at Worcester Assisted Living on May 8, 2017 at the age of 89. Betty was born February 7, 1928 at Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia, the daughter of Charles “Turk” Warthman and Elizabeth “Liz” Taft (Ryerson) Newkirk. She was predeceased by a son Theodore Taft Martin and her husband John Stanwood (Stan) Martin. She grew up in Chestnut Hill, attended the Springside School there and later worked for Smith, Kline and French as a lab technician.
She and Stan were married at Trinity Church, Philadelphia on April 30, 1949. They lived in Wayne from 1952-1966 where she enjoyed growing flowers and entering arrangements in the Wayne Flower Show, canning fruits and vegetables from her garden and making her famous blueberry and peach jams. She worked alongside her husband at their Marwood Rental stores in Havertown and Berwyn for many years. They moved to Lilac Farm in Paoli in 1966 where she was active in the equestrian education of her children as District Commissioner and later President of the Radnor Hunt Pony Club, and a member of the Pony Club National Games Committee. She rode to hounds at Kimberton Hunt and Radnor Hunt and was chairman (working with Stan) for many years through 1989 of the Steeple-Chase phase of the Radnor Hunt Three-Day Event. Betty officiated at the World (Horse) Championships in Kentucky in 1982 and with Stan at the 1984 Olympic Games.
They moved to Hershey’s Mill in West Chester in 1981 where Betty became an avid golfer and competed in many tournaments. Betty was on the Hershey’s Mill Women’s Golf Team for many years. She was Chairman of the Women’s Golf Association there in 1988. She won The Hershey’s Mill Lady’s Championship Perpetual trophy, the Pairs Match Play, the Singles Match Play and the Chairman’s Cup, some several times. At age 79 she became the oldest lady to win the Hershey’s Mill Memorial Cup. She and Stan liked to travel all over to play golf, especially to Florida and Jekyll Island, GA. One of her biggest thrills was traveling to Scotland to play on the St. Andrews Links.
Always active, Betty had a zest for life, but she also cherished her quiet times sitting on a beach reading a mystery novel or doing her crossword puzzles with her morning coffee. She had a passion for sports and always looked forward to watching “her” Eagles, Phillies and Flyers play whenever she could, and when she was not playing golf, she was watching it on TV. She also enjoyed bowling and playing bridge. She was a strong and capable woman, someone who let you know where she stood (just like her mother) and was well-liked by all who met her. Dear friends will always remember her standing rib roast and Yorkshire pudding meals, with her famous chocolate icing cake for dessert. Her home was always decorated for every season with fresh flowers from her garden or ones she had dried. Betty was a talented seamstress who made some of her own clothes and gorgeous bed quilts for each member of her family, but perhaps she was best known for her beautiful “Betty Bags” purses.
Betty, as her mother did, loved animals. She always had Siamese cats, and she especially loved her Siamese cats Rolf and Nika, who she leaves behind and miss her very much. She is also survived by her children; Elizabeth Pillsbury Martin Barber and her husband John of Farmington, CT, Harris Warthman Martin and his wife Irene of Bensalem and John Charles Martin of Royersford, her grandchildren; Rachel Elizabeth Martin Nettle, Loring Curtis Barber and Stanwood Warthman Davis Martin, and her great-grandchildren; Taylor Elizabeth Martin, Ella Elizabeth Nettle and Ava Marie Nettle all of whom were the loves of her life. Betty’s fourth great grandchild, Skylar Jade Martin, was born (a week earlier than expected) on the night of her death.
The graveside interment will be held first, on Friday May 19, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, (located inside the cemetery in the Plymouth section). All are welcome to attend. The memorial service to celebrate Betty’s life will take place after that at 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner St., West Chester. Reception immediately to follow at the church.
Instead of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Betty’s name to The Barn at Spring Brook Farm. Please make checks out to First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner St., West Chester, PA 19382, and in the memo line put “Barn at Spring Brook Farm”. Donations can also be made in her name to The Great Valley Nature Center, P. O. Box 82, Devault, PA 19432.
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” (Newkirk) Martin, of West Chester, PA died peacefully at Meadowood at Worcester Assisted Living on May 8, 2017 at the age of 89. Betty was born February 7, 1928 at Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia, the daughter of Charles “Turk” Warthman and Elizabeth “Liz” Taft (Ryerson) Newkirk. She was predeceased by a son Theodore Taft Martin and her husband John Stanwood (Stan) Martin. She grew up in Chestnut Hill, attended the Springside School there and later worked for Smith, Kline and French as a lab technician.
She and Stan were married at Trinity Church, Philadelphia on April 30, 1949. They lived in Wayne from 1952-1966 where she enjoyed growing flowers and entering arrangements in the Wayne Flower Show, canning fruits and vegetables from her garden and making her famous blueberry and peach jams. She worked alongside her husband at their Marwood Rental stores in Havertown and Berwyn for many years. They moved to Lilac Farm in Paoli in 1966 where she was active in the equestrian education of her children as District Commissioner and later President of the Radnor Hunt Pony Club, and a member of the Pony Club National Games Committee. She rode to hounds at Kimberton Hunt and Radnor Hunt and was chairman (working with Stan) for many years through 1989 of the Steeple-Chase phase of the Radnor Hunt Three-Day Event. Betty officiated at the World (Horse) Championships in Kentucky in 1982 and with Stan at the 1984 Olympic Games.
They moved to Hershey’s Mill in West Chester in 1981 where Betty became an avid golfer and competed in many tournaments. Betty was on the Hershey’s Mill Women’s Golf Team for many years. She was Chairman of the Women’s Golf Association there in 1988. She won The Hershey’s Mill Lady’s Championship Perpetual trophy, the Pairs Match Play, the Singles Match Play and the Chairman’s Cup, some several times. At age 79 she became the oldest lady to win the Hershey’s Mill Memorial Cup. She and Stan liked to travel all over to play golf, especially to Florida and Jekyll Island, GA. One of her biggest thrills was traveling to Scotland to play on the St. Andrews Links.
Always active, Betty had a zest for life, but she also cherished her quiet times sitting on a beach reading a mystery novel or doing her crossword puzzles with her morning coffee. She had a passion for sports and always looked forward to watching “her” Eagles, Phillies and Flyers play whenever she could, and when she was not playing golf, she was watching it on TV. She also enjoyed bowling and playing bridge. She was a strong and capable woman, someone who let you know where she stood (just like her mother) and was well-liked by all who met her. Dear friends will always remember her standing rib roast and Yorkshire pudding meals, with her famous chocolate icing cake for dessert. Her home was always decorated for every season with fresh flowers from her garden or ones she had dried. Betty was a talented seamstress who made some of her own clothes and gorgeous bed quilts for each member of her family, but perhaps she was best known for her beautiful “Betty Bags” purses.
Betty, as her mother did, loved animals. She always had Siamese cats, and she especially loved her Siamese cats Rolf and Nika, who she leaves behind and miss her very much. She is also survived by her children; Elizabeth Pillsbury Martin Barber and her husband John of Farmington, CT, Harris Warthman Martin and his wife Irene of Bensalem and John Charles Martin of Royersford, her grandchildren; Rachel Elizabeth Martin Nettle, Loring Curtis Barber and Stanwood Warthman Davis Martin, and her great-grandchildren; Taylor Elizabeth Martin, Ella Elizabeth Nettle and Ava Marie Nettle all of whom were the loves of her life. Betty’s fourth great grandchild, Skylar Jade Martin, was born (a week earlier than expected) on the night of her death.
The graveside interment will be held first, on Friday May 19, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, (located inside the cemetery in the Plymouth section). All are welcome to attend. The memorial service to celebrate Betty’s life will take place after that at 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner St., West Chester. Reception immediately to follow at the church.
Instead of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Betty’s name to The Barn at Spring Brook Farm. Please make checks out to First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner St., West Chester, PA 19382, and in the memo line put “Barn at Spring Brook Farm”. Donations can also be made in her name to The Great Valley Nature Center, P. O. Box 82, Devault, PA 19432.
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2017.05.18
Amazing Woman
My mom was amazing. She is my hero. A lot of who I am and what I have become is because of her. She worked hard and gave all that she had to her family and friends. Since Dad died, when I had the rare chance to spend more than two days with her, we would "seize the day" every day. We would start at 9:00 in the morning and fill our days with running errands, going on adventures, gardening, working on projects around her home and visiting with family and her friends. Of course, anything we did always revolved around her golf schedule. We were quite convinced that there was no one who could keep up with us! I have taken care of her beloved Siamese cats Rolph and Nika for 2 years now. I am saddened that she never again had the chance to hold them. Mom was gracious to the end and always had a smile on her face. I am extremely grateful that her passing was quick and peaceful. I had just talked to her the night before she died, and I am content with the memory of that wonderful conversation and my final goodbye which was always "Love you Mom, and sweet dreams".
Posted by Beth B
2017.05.18
My Friend
What a wonderful privilege to have know Betty for such a long time! I have so many memories that I will store in my heart forever, memories of playing golf with her and Stan and having dinner together, the Hershey's Mill Ladies Golf Team, driving to our matches with me driving all 7 ladies in Ben Steele's, our former pros, big van, many golf games, some for fun and some for competition with a very determined Betty, what fun these memories are! The best was taking Betty to First Presbyterian Church where she loved to worship and breakfasts after. I have her "Betty Bags" which I will enjoy using even more now and the wonderful friendship over the years. See you again someday dear Betty! xoxo Judy Mackleer
Posted by Judy M