Julia Martin Baer

Julia Martin Baer, 73, died at New Hanover Medical Center in Wilmington, NC, on Tuesday, Oct 20, 2015.

She was the daughter of Randolph and Evangeline (Beany) Martin, was born in Shelby, NC, and graduated from Shelby High School and Appalachian State Teachers College. After teaching high school mathematics for two years in Charlotte, NC, she joined the Celanese Corporation in various laboratory and technical positions before moving into marketing/sales. Relocating to New York, she was the first female to hold a lead position in the company?s industrial marketing operations. While in New York she met and married John Baer, also with Celanese.

They moved to Charlotte and then to a home on the Cape Fear River in Southport, NC, where she retired in 1997 after 32 years with her company. The Porter?s Neck community in Wilmington was the location of their last residence, and St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wilmington became their church home.

Julia is survived by her stepson, Ken Baer (Carleen) of Wellesley, MA, stepdaughter, Janice Iverson (Chris) of Cudahy, WI; grandchildren Alison Popper of Brooklyn, NY, Lindsay Popper of Brighton, MA, Keith Baer of Boston, MA, and Lauren Baer of Wellesley, MA; her brother, Conrad Martin (Ann) of Mount Airy, NC; and nephew, Marcus Martin (Becky Latanich) of Sitka, AK and niece, Wrenn Martin (Ben Faulk) of Winston Salem, NC.

A memorial service will be held at 3PM on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at St Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1416 Market Street, Wilmington, NC. The family will meet friends following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1406 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC, 28401. The family thanks all who supported Julia and John during his illness, and Julia after John?s death and through her subsequent health struggles. Special thanks to her Porters Neck neighbors and her church family.