LONGVIEW — Mrs. Martha Jane Taranta Servatius, 96, born November 14, 1923, in Bowood, Pennsylvania, passed from this life February 18, 2013, in Longview, Texas.
Mrs. Servatius proudly served her country in the U.S. Air Force as a flight nurse, entering the service just before World War II as a second lieutenant and served through the war. She was discharged from active duty as a captain.
She was an avid reader, a long time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and she also enjoyed traveling around the world with her husband; but most of all she enjoyed her grandchildren. Mrs. Servatius also worked for many years at Eastman Kodak as an industrial nurse.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Richard Servatius; and a son-in-law, Bobby Smith.
Those left behind to cherish her memory are her son, Rick Servatius and wife, Sandy; daughter, Lynn Smith; four grandsons, Blaine Smith, Clayton Smith and wife, Lauren, Steven Smith and Kevin Servatius and wife, Kameshia; grand­daughter, Carla Waite and husband, Gary; and one great-grandson, Carter Richard Servatius.
She is also survived by a brother, Jim Taranta and wife, Ella; a sister, Gloria Schopinski; sister-in-law, Joan Taranta; along with many nieces, nephews and other loving family members.
A Mass of Christian burial will be 2 p.m. today, February 20, 2013, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with a rosary being recited at 1:30 p.m., prior to the Mass. Entombment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of the usual floral tributes, the family requests donations be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church.