Martha Engbarth

1916 - 2015

Martha Engbarth 1916-2015 Martha Fuller Engbarth, born on May 25, 1916, in Twin Falls, Idaho. She died in Anchorage, Alaska on Nov. 6, 2015. She was 20 days short of 99 & 1/2 years, still living on her own in the house that Pixie and Carl built for her in 2000. Martha's family moved around several times during her younger years finally settling in Hollywood, California. There she finished high school, did drafting for Douglas Aircraft Company during the early 1940s', tried fashion designing, sang professionally before marriage and worked for her family's company, Craftsman's Guild. She met Joseph Engbarth on a blind date. They married on July 31, 1936, in Los Angeles, Calif. Joe was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco, Calif., when their daughter, Pixie, was born. After living several years with her parents in the Hollywood Hills, Martha and Joe built a house and moved to Sherman Oaks, California, in 1949. Here is where they spent the majority of their adult lives and raised Pixie. Included in the family were a series of Afghan Hounds. Retirement in 1975, took them to Flagstaff, Arizona; too much snow took them to Prescott, Arizona after a few winters. After Joe died in 1998, Martha moved to Anchorage to be close to Pixie and Carl. She helped design and build a ranch style home in Zodiac Manor. She loved the location, all her neighbors, and life with her little dog Holly. Many summers she could be seen strolling around the neighborhood with her 3 wheeled jogger, accompanied by Holly. Since arriving in Anchorage, she received two new hips and one knee. Martha was always busy. She had many knitting, sewing and counted cross stitch projects as well as house plants to care for. She enjoyed visiting and maintaining friendships, but was also happy living by herself and was an excellent cook. Her two vices were Dark Lindoor Chocolate and Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream. Next May 25, 2016, on what would have been her 100th birthday, a celebration of her life is planned, followed by a scattering of ashes. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Engbarth; her parents, Maude and Boyd H. Fuller; and her brothers, Bob and Dick Fuller. She is survived by her daughter, Martha (Pixie) Siebe; her son-in-law, Carl Siebe; and grandsons, Graham Siebe of Bellevue, Washington and Steven (Amanda) Siebe of Beaverton, Oregon; and her dog Holly.