DORIS M. MARTIN

Doris M. Martin, age 83, of Columbia City, passed away at 12:10 a.m. Thursday, August 12, 2010 at The Oaks, Columbia City. Born on April 2, 1927 in Joliet, IL, she was the daughter of Fred E. and Luella M. (Effner) McCloud.
She graduated with the Class of 1945 from South Side High School, Fort Wayne and on June 2, 1945, she married Robert W. Martin at South Wayne United Methodist Church, Fort Wayne. A former resident of Churubusco and St. Paul, MN, she moved to Columbia City in 2003. Doris worked in secretarial positions at J.I. Case Company, Peter Eckrich, Dr. Richard Mann and St. Joseph Hospital. While living in Minnesota, she sold residential real estate for 8 years. A former news reporter for the Columbia City Post and Mail and Churubusco News, she retired February 1, 1998.
Since 1960, she has been an active member of Kappa Delta Phi Sorority serving in national and regional offices for 18 years including national president from 1978-1980. She organized Gamma Alpha Eta Chapter, Churubusco, in 1964. She served on fund drives for the American Heart Association where she was honored with several awards from Northeast Indiana Heart Fund Chapter, while serving on the Board of Directors. For 13 years, she was active in Turtle Days where she served as Grand Marshall of Parade in 1995 and general chairman including the silver anniversary in 1974. She also broadcast Turtle Talk over WIFF radio station, Auburn, for two years.
Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Robert W. Martin of Columbia City; 3 sons, Donald W. (Martha) Martin of Aurora, IL, David R. (Vivian) Martin of Sheperdville, KY and Fred Gaff, Churubusco; 5 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Jay W. McCloud of Bangor, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Robert W. McCloud.
Visitation is Friday, August 13, 2010 from 4-8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral service is Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Terry Zolman of Merriam Christian Chapel Church. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Fort Wayne. Memorial gifts may be given in Mrs. Martin's memory to the Whitley County EMS. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.