Obituary of Alice Martin

Alice Theodosia Martin of Williamsburg Iowa, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away on September 23rd in her daughter's home in Iowa City. Her passing is deeply mourned by her children Robert Martin (Leslie Martin), Deborah Myers (Mark Myers), and James Martin (Theresa Messlein), by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and most especially by Kenneth, her husband, devoted and loving companion of 68 years. Alice was born to Elmer and Edith Lobdell on January 25th 1924 in Gary Indiana, and grew up in the loving company of 4 brothers and a sister, all of whom preceded her in death. 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. Alice 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 grateful to Iowa City Hospice for their help in making the most of her final weeks of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Iowa City Hospice in Alice's name. Online condolences can be shared with her family through the website of the funeral home @ www.gayandciha.com.