Martha Bice

MARTHA BICE

LIMA — On Mothers' Day, May 14, 2017, Marvelous Martha joined the Heavenly Choir of Angels and is joyously singing "The Wonderful Grace of Jesus". She loved her Lima Baptist Temple family and singing in the choir. Her nights included listening to WTGN radio, which gave her comfort and joy.

Martha Irean Baldwin Bice was born to Margaret Carrie Fisher Baldwin Martin and Donald Cessna Baldwin in Lima Memorial Hospital on Mothers' Day, May 14, 1944. (Full Circle: born and passed on Mothers' Day near 7 p.m.) She was preceded in death by her sister, Donna Crystal Baldwin Pryor. Her brother Carl Russell Baldwin (Angela) survives.

On October 17, 1970, Martha married Michael Lee Bice who survives. Their children, Michele Leigh Bice (Randy), Matthew Scott Bice (Roseanna), and granddaughter Brianna Jade Gilbert Butts (Troy) also live locally.

Martha graduated from Bath High School in 1962. She enjoyed meeting up with girlfriends, class reunions and "catching up on our lives with some of us staying as crazy as ever". This year is her 55th Bath HS Class Reunion. In 1964 she graduated from the Richard Weston Beauty School, and worked for six years at Hefner's Beauty Shop on St. Johns Ave. In 1976 she began an over 30 year career helping adults with developmental disabilities. Martha and God had a battle about her retiring. She wanted to keep working but God said no, so she devoted her time to many other pursuits.

Martha was one of the founding owners of the Lima Chargers semi-pro hockey team. She and her cousin enjoyed being "groupies" as they yelled, "CHARGE!!!". Through the years, Martha made and sent cards to many shut-ins. She was active in the Christian Women's Club, and kept all of us updated with family news. She loved scrap-booking; coloring before it became popular; garage sales (one person's junk is another's treasure); and asking questions= "That's how we learn." Martha was a member of the Lima Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, and her children belonged to the local chapter of Children of the American Revolution.

We would like to thank St. Rita's Hospice for the gentle and loving care you gave to Martha and to her family.

Martha asked, "In remembrance of me, send flowers to people you love, give money to the charity of your choice and please, take your Grandmother out for lunch." A Family and Friends Reunion will be held on Saturday, June 10th at 1:00 p.m. at the Lima Baptist Temple in the Fellowship Room.