Gladys Martin

Gladys Irene Martin, age 90 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Lakeland Hospital – Niles following an extended illness.  Her family is grateful to the staff of Westwood of Niles for their personal and compassionate care, and the staff of Lakeland Hospital for their special level of caring.

She was born on July 22, 1927 in Delaware, Ohio to Elmer and Leana Rose (McWilliams) Bauman, and was graduated from Willis High School in Delaware.  She was employed for many years at the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company, retiring in 1989, and then continued her education at Lake Michigan College.

Gladys was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Niles where she also served as the trustee board bookkeeper.  She volunteered at the SeniorNet Computer Learning Center and was a member of the Advisory Council at the Region IV Area Agency on Aging.  She was an Election Poll Worker for the City of Niles, and an usher at The Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College.  She enjoyed participating in the exercise class at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, gardening, sewing, crochet, and walking her dog; but her greatest joy was her family who gathered at her house for holidays, birthdays, and playing cards.

On January 1, 1946 at San Diego, California she married Wyatt E. Martin with whom she celebrated the forty-sixth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on August 22, 1992.  She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Sara R. Flint on May 27, 1991, and a sister, Mary Jane Stevens.

Surviving family includes her children, Terry Flint of Niles, Richard (& Cheri) Martin of Buchanan, Michigan, and William (& Linda) Martin and Michael (& Liz) Martin, both of Niles; grandchildren Theresa (& Duffy) Suseland, Damon (& Christine) Flint, Katie (& Jeff) Berry, Lane (& Jennifer) Martin, Cole (& Britney) Martin, Anna (& Ryan) Rutkowske, Laura (& Paul) Wreggelsworth, and Sarah (& Joel Perry) Martin; great-grandchildren Aspen, Reese, Hunter, Miles, Harrison, Rae, and Royce; Gladys’s sister, Judy Mitchell of Plain City, Ohio; Wyatt’s brother, Ronald (& Jill) Martin of Niles, and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Gladys Martin will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing of Niles officiating.  Committal services will follow at Mission Hills.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.  Contributions in memory of Gladys may be made to the Buchanan Scarecrow Charities 4720 Niles Buchanan Rd,  Buchanan, Michigan 49107.   Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com