Betty L. MARTIN

NEWPORT NEWS - Mrs. Betty L. Martin, 88, died Nov. 20, 2010 at The James River Convalescent Center in Newport News, Va.
She was born in 1922 in Minneapolis, Minn., the daughter of the late Henry Gaufin Peterson and Gertrude Dahl Peterson. Betty spent her youth in Minneapolis and, after studying Home Economics at the University of Minnesota, she moved with her parents to Abington, Pa., where she worked on ad campaigns for a leading Philadelphia agency. After the war, Betty moved to Corning, N.Y., where she worked in the Home Economics Department of the Corning Glass Works, and where she met and married Frederick E. Martin in 1951, at the First Presbyterian Church of Corning. In their 59 years of marriage they lived in Corning and Horseheads, N.Y.; Clearwater and Tampa, Fla.; and Newport News, Va.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick, in July 2010; and her older brother, Henry Peterson Jr., in 1949.
Mrs. Martin was employed as a secretary for many years by the Chemung County Youth Bureau in Elmira, N.Y.
Betty enjoyed many family activities, including picnics with friends at the lake and daughters' music programs. She had many friends with whom she shared many laughs, and was an avid bridge player. Betty and Fred were faithful members of the Corning and Horseheads Presbyterian Churches. Betty devoted much time to community service as a Girl Scout Leader, a volunteer librarian, and President of the Horseheads Women's Club. She loved flowers, plants, crafts, sewing, and painting and took great pleasure in her art. Eager to learn about her Norwegian and Swedish heritage, she traveled with her daughter, Phyllis, to Norway and Sweden, and to Minneapolis to locate original documents of family history.
Mrs. Martin is survived by three daughters, Nancy Johnson and her husband, Peter of Doylestown, Pa., Phyllis Martin of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Ellen DeMaria and her husband, John of Newport News, Va. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Eric Johnson of Austin, Texas, Emily Johnson of Philadelphia; Laura DeMaria of Lawton, Okla., and Lindsay DeMaria and John DeMaria III of Newport News.
The family would like to thank the staff at Hidenwood Retirement Home, Riverside Hospice, The Newport and the James River Convalescent Homes, for their loving support.
A memorial service will be conducted at 5 p.m. today, Nov. 22, 2010, at Weymouth Funeral Home by the Rev. Kathy Gray. The family will receive friends following the service. Burial will be at Hope Cemetery in Corning, N.Y., at a later date. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.