Hilda H. Martin

WILLIAMSTOWN - Hilda Elaine (Holden) Martin, 87, of The Gardens, died Thursday, October 3, 2013, at Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center with family at her side.

Born March 11, 1926, in Barre City, she was the daughter of Wilman and Mildred (Thompson) Holden. Hilda grew up in Plainfield, graduating from Plainfield High School in 1944. On May 17, 1947, she married James "Jim" Martin at Grace United Methodist Church in Plainfield. They were married 39 wonderful years before his death in 1986.

Jim and Hilda made their home in Barre and spent many summers at the family camp on Woodbury Lake. Hilda was an accomplished tap dancer and acrobat, performing with her father as a child. For many years she was employed by the New England Telephone Company in Montpelier. After leaving Barre in 1991, she lived in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, and Windsor, VT.

Since 2008 she had resided at The Gardens, in Williamstown. She enjoyed quilting, homemaking (especially baking), dancing, shopping, traveling, tennis, and photography. Family was an important part of her life and she enjoyed her many friends.

She and her husband Jim will be remembered as faithful and active members of the Barre Congregational Church and its activities. Hilda was a Jaycee Ann and a member of the Home Demonstration Club.

A loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Hilda is survived by her four children: son Robert Martin and his wife Susan, daughter Cynthia J. Martin and her husband George Longenecker, daughter Kathleen "Kate" Chatot and her husband Jules, and son William and his wife Nellie; 10 grandchildren, Amy Martin, Elaine Martin, Karl Martin, Nathaniel Fredericks and his wife Karen, Ashley Martin and her husband Chris Kersey, Julia Martin Longenecker, Jane (Chatot) Useo and her husband Bryan, Jules Chatot, Lydia (Martin) Mattingly and her husband John, and Andrea Martin; and seven great-grandchildren, Isaac, Carter, Owen, Olivia, Iris, Wild Lilly and Aiden, as well as several nieces and nephews and their extended families. She is also survived by her sister, Ila Perry and by her dear friend and companion, Frank Gaylord of The Gardens.

Hilda was predeceased by her parents, her brother Willard, and her second husband John Kobe.

Her memorial service will be held at the Barre Congregational Church Tuesday, October 8, 2013, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow downstairs. There are no calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to Home Share Now, 105 North Main Street Suite 103, Barre, VT 05641 or the Central Vermont Humane Society, PO Box 687, Montpelier VT 05601-0687.

The Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre, is in charge of the arrangements.