Martha Ella Dobbins, 88, of Greenfield, passed away April 25, 2014. She was born Oct.16, 1925. Martha is a native of Carthage, but lived her entire adult life in Greenfield.
On Oct. 5, 1947 Martha and Dallas D. Dobbins were joined in holy matrimony and were blessed with two children. Dallas died June 22, 1967, at a young age of 42. She never remarried. Martha worked hard and put her two children, Len and Diane, through college herself. Her best friend and next- door neighbors, Rose and Ralph Reiser, helped her out immensely for which Martha was deeply grateful.
Martha began her career in 1951, in the bookkeeping department of the former Citizen’s Bank before her children were born. She then went to Greenfield Banking Co. where she was the head of the Bookkeeping Department and Operations Officer. She retired as supervisor of the Bookkeeping Department in 1992 after 46 years of service. She continued to work part time in that area through her early 80’s.
Martha had many special talents. Her favorite hobbies were working outdoors and gardening. She was a tomboy at heart. If dreams came true she would have lived on a farm and raised hogs, sheep, and cattle. This agrarian inclination goes directly back to her youth as Martha Stoner. She and her sister, Elizabeth, took top honors in 4-H club in Rush County. The Stoner’s lived in Carthage at the time. The girls and their 4-H projects were written up in several agricultural magazines and newspapers including the Chicago Tribune.
She attended a short course at Purdue, where she earned a certificate in Dairy Production. She had a prize grand champion hog named “Stoner’s Masterpiece” at the State Fair when she was young. She was a member of the American Berkshire Association. In addition to her love of animals, she enjoyed canning vegetables out of her garden that she shared with her sister and brother in law, Elizabeth and Bob Barnhart. She also enjoyed cooking with the fruits and vegetables she grew herself. Martha was known for her fabulous cooking and won many blue ribbon awards for her famous pies.
Martha will lovingly be remembered by her son, Len D. (Becky) Dobbins of Noblesville; daughter, Diane Gerstle of Columbus. Martha has four grandchildren, for whom she loved and nurtured, Lauren (Jon) Carroll ofSan Diego; Nicholas (Jeri) Gerstle of Nashville, Tenn.; Erin Dobbins of Chicago and Kathleen Gerstle of Louisville. Martha has one surviving sister, Elizabeth (Bob) Barnhart of Greenfield; brothers William (Martha) Stoner of Greenfield and Charles (Marilyn) Stoner of Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Martha will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Dallas, in Park cemetery in Greenfield. Preceding Martha in death brothers, Robert Stoner, John Stoner; sister, Kathleen and her mother and father, Faye and Hosea Stoner.
Martha left this world a happy camper and will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.
Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory, 1484 W. US Hwy. 40, Greenfield, Indiana 46140. A graveside service will be held immediately following visitation at Park Cemetery. Pastor John Davis will be officiating. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery in Greenfield. A Celebration of Martha’s life will be at the home of her good friend, Rose Reiser, following the graveside services.
