Martha Hillman 1898-1996

HILLMAN, GRIER, JOHNSTON, KNUPP, SHEARS, SMITH, GASQUE, LESTER

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 5/7/2008 at 11:15:06

Newspaper obituary clipping

MARTHA HILLMAN
Martha Grier Hillman, 97, of Cedar Rapids, died March 15, at her residence at the Meth-Wick Community.

She was born July 12, 1898 in Lincoln Township, Poweshiek County, the daughter of Charles and Eliza Jane (Johnston) Grier. She was graduated from Deep River High School and Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught school at Humboldt, Iowa.

On Aug. 9, 1924 she married Verne R. Hillman at Deep River. They lived in Manhattan, Kan., before moving to Blacksburg, VA. Verne's work took them to Charlottesville and Danville, VA and then Spartanburg, SC.

From 1954 to 1961 they lived in Bogar West Java Indonesia. In 1961 they retired to Blacksburg, and in 1983 they moved to the Meth-Wick Community at Cedar Rapids. Verne died March 2, 1987.

Martha was a member of Ingles Chapter No. 96 O.E.S. at Blacksburg as well as the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Verne; two brothers: Joseph Benton Grier and Harlan Grier and a sister, Margaret Knupp.

Martha is survived by one daughter and her husband, Helen and Bill Shears of Kingsport, Tenn.; one son and his wife, Dr. Charles and Betty Hillman of Johnson City, Tenn.; five grandchildren: Charles William Shears, Martha Jane Shears Smith, Ian Andrew Shears, James Boyer Hillman and Nancy Grier Hillman Gasque; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Florence Lester of Cedar Rapids, and other relatives and many friends.

Service March 18, Watts Funeral Home, Montezuma. Officiating Rev. Robert Dennert, Chaplin at Meth-Wick Community, Cedar Rapids. Music "His Eye Is On THe Sparrow," "Precious Lord Take My Hand," Mrs. Carol Dale, soloist, Mrs. Kathleen Ramsey, organist. Organ Selection "How Great Thou Art."

Casket Bearers Ian Shears, Ron Dietrich, Perry Grier, Charles Shears, Casey Pierce, Phillip Grier.

Interment Golden Rod Cemeter, Deep River.