LACONIA - Martha Louvenia Foreman Wood was born at home in Mt. Vernon, Arkansas on April 6, 1922, the daughter of Wade Foreman and Octavia Clark Foreman. Her sister, Wadene Hilliard, is still living in Arkansas. Martha Lou is predeceased by her brothers James and Earl Foreman, her sisters Eunice Duncan and Bernie May Robertson, and her husband of 63 years, Ernest O. Wood.
Martha Lou graduated from Draughn’s School of Business, the University of Arkansas, and Chatham University. She was recognized as a Danforth Scholar and was an active member of 4H.
She married Ernest Wood after a whirlwind romance, and waited for him to return to her from the armed forces after World War II.
She had an active life as a Master Gardener through the Penn State University Extension Office, and was a member of PEO and the United Methodist Women. Trained as a microbacteriologist, she worked both for the government and for Dole Industries as a young woman. Later, she was the secretary at Highland United Methodist Church in NC, and was self-employed as a wedding dress reconstructor. She was also interested in cooking, sewing and quilting, volunteering, gardening, reading and was constantly learning new things. She was always active in her churches teaching Bible, working with children, and volunteering wherever she was needed. Martha Lou was known for her good humor and interest in people. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Gilford, NH.
Martha Lou died on Feb. 8, 2015. She is survived by her children: Victoria Wood Parrish, Charles Wood and his wife Melissa, and John Wood and his wife Denise. There are six grandchildren: Heather Parrish Valosin and her husband Eric, Kathleen Parrish Graham and her husband Billy, James Parrish, Kristin, Katherine and Henry Wood. She has two great-grandchildren: Micah Valosin and Austin Graham.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 1, 2015 at 1PM at the First United Methodist Church of Gilford,18 Wesley Way, Gilford.
Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Gilford, 18 Wesley Way, Gilford, NH 03249 or to SmileTrain, PO Box 96208, Washington, DC 20090-6208 to help children with cleft palates.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements.