Martha W. Bahl

Martha W. Bahl (1932-2025), 92, of Ripley, NY, passed away July 11, 2025, at Bradford Manor.

She was born July 27, 1932 in Frohlichshof, Ostpreussen (East Prussia), now known as Wessowovo, Poland. She was the youngest child of Johann and Wilhelminne (Semelka) Bahl.

Martha relocated to Essen, West Germany after World War II where she completed her education. She met Oswald Bahl in West Germany and they were married March 22, 1951.

After enduring personal tragedies and losing their homeland as a result of World War II, Martha and Oswald emigrated to North East, PA, in 1954. Two years later they bought their first house in Ripley.

Ripley became their hometown where they raised four children. They became United States citizens in 1960 and built a new home on Klondike Road in 1968.

Martha and Oswald partnered to build a family farm that grew Concord grapes and other produce. Martha was a homemaker and kept the financial records of the farm while Oswald also worked at General Electric in Erie. They maintained and worked on the farm into their 80s.

Martha and Oswald were always gracious hosts to family and friends. Gatherings celebrating birthdays, holidays, and special events featuring delicious home-cooked meals were important to them. Relatives, friends and even new acquaintances enjoyed their hospitality.

Martha loved her family and her home. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, crocheting, flower gardening and coin collecting. She also was fond of going with her husband to dances, estate sales and flea markets. Martha always felt the need to stay busy every waking hour.

Late in her life Martha endured the heartbreak of vision loss as a result of macular degeneration, then vascular dementia that affected her mobility, memory and ability to speak.

Martha's family thanks the staff at Bradford Manor for their care and kindness.

Along with her parents and older siblings, Freida, Karl, Heinrich, Hedwig, Adam, Fritz, Gustav and Willi; Martha was preceded in death by a daughter, Irene R. Bahl, in 1972.

Surviving are her husband of 74 years Oswald, of Ripley; and her children: Heidi (Randy) Anderson of Jamestown, NY; Larry (Tammy) Bahl of Ripley; and Randal (Valerie) Bahl of Shelton, WA.

Also surviving are her grandchildren Reed (Maggie Erlich) Anderson, Delmar, NY; Andrea (James) Abbott, Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Alicea (John) Acevedo and Destiny (Kent) Gilpin, both of Tallahassee, FL.

Her great grandchildren are Riley and Hazel Anderson, Ellery and Cecily Abbott, Apollonia and Vivian Acevedo, and Evelyn and Lenora Gilpin.



Friends and families will be received at Bowers Funeral Home, North East, PA, from 10:00 a. m. to 12:00 p. m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

A private family service and burial will be in East Ripley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ripley Volunteer Fire Department, Ripley Library or a charity of one's choice.