Betty Jean Martin

Betty Jean Martin, 86, of Goshen, died Friday, May 1, 2020, at home after a short illness. She was born April 19, 1934, in Millersburg, Ohio to Ray and Erma (Gardner) Mast. On July 12, 1952, she married Ralph D. Martin in Berlin, Ohio.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Richard Mast and sister, Mary Ellen Martin. Husband Ralph died in September 2017.  She was also preceded in death by in-laws Alice Martin and Grace Martin, Orrville, Ohio; Velma (Stan) Sauder, Souderton, Pennsylvania; and Carolyn (Sanford) Swartzendruber, Goshen, Indiana.

Survivors include four children, Steven (Lucie) Martin of Middlebury; Jeffrey (Karen) Martin of Fairview Park, Ohio; and Beth (David) Birky and Kirk D. Martin, both of Goshen; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister, Ruth (Jim) Oswald of Orrville, Ohio. She is also survived by brother-in-law, P. Wesley (Mary Ellen) Martin of Orrville, Ohio; sister-in-law Lois (Denny) Zimmerly of Sterling, Ohio; and brother-in-law Sanford (Carolyn) Swartzendruber of Goshen, Indiana, along with many nieces and nephews, their partners, children, and even grandchildren, who will remember “Grandma Betty.”

A longtime Orrville, Ohio, resident, Betty worked as an administrative assistant at Mennonite Mutual Insurance, Central Christian High School, and Ohio Mennonite Conference. She and Ralph were active members of Orrville Mennonite Church. In 1998 they moved to Goshen, Indiana, where they became members of Waterford Mennonite Church. Betty provided childcare for her three youngest grandchildren before working for Compassionate Caregivers.

A private graveside service will be held at Violett Cemetery, Goshen.

Memorial donations may be given to Waterford Mennonite Church or the Humane Society Elkhart County .