Alice Theodosia Martin, 25 Jan 1924 - 23 Sept 2015

MARTIN, LOBDELL, MYERS, MESSLEIN

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 10/26/2015 at 16:07:46

Alice Martin, 91

Alice T. Martin, 91, Williamsburg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died Sept. 23, 2015, at her daughter’s home in Iowa City.

Memorials may be made to Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be left at www.gayandciha.com.

Alice Theodosia Martin was born Jan. 25, 1924, in Gary, Ind., the daughter of Elmer and Edith Lobdell. She grew up in the loving company of four brothers and a sister. As a child of the Great Depression and World War II, she grew up in perilous times and spent much of her adult life securing the safety and stability of her family.

To that end, she cooked countless meals, washed mountains of laundry and kept house with impressive energy and rigor. She taught her children many things, including the difference between “mom clean” and what passes for clean elsewhere. But to say she was a taskmaster tells only half of Alice’s story, for she was not always stern and often showed a sharp sense of humor and a soft heart. She made us laugh and feel cared-for until the very end of her life, which she faced with characteristic courage and grace. She will forever be celebrated for her fierceness, compassion, strength and tenderness.

We are fortunate to have had her in our midst for as long as we did and are grateful to Iowa City Hospice for their help in making the most of her final weeks of life.

Martin is survived by her husband and devoted and loving companion of 68 years, Kenneth; her children, Robert (Leslie) Martin, Deborah (Mark) Myers and James Martin (Theresa Messlein); her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by four brothers and one sister.

Journal Tribune, 30 Sept 2015, pg 5