Althea L. Martin, 92, of Halifax, MA passed away peacefully on June 1. Born on October 6, 1923 to Frank and Ina Bates. She grew up in Whitman, MA and attended the First Congregational Church. In 1941 Althea graduated Whitman High School. She entered the Waltham Nurses Training School on September 1941, majoring in child care and training. After graduation in 1943 she began work at Fairlawn Hospital in Worcester. She took singing lessons in Boston and would perform at recitals, weddings and radio. She traveled to New York to audition for the Arthur Godfrey show.
In 1951 while working as a welder at Olsen Tool & Die Althea met Wesley Martin, who was a lineman on the assembly line. They quickly became best friends and married on June 27, 1953. Shortly after they joined the congregation at All Saints Episcopal Church in Whitman. Where they would raise their family.
Althea was the strong, couragous, matriach of an extensive family. She loved to read. Play card games. Follow the Red Sox. Especially Dustin Pedroia who was her favorite player. And spending time with family.
Loving mother to Dale Nance of Wareham, MA. Donna Latvis of Halifax, MA. And Dianne Panzarella of Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Grandmother of 11. Kristine Smith, Jennifer Richard, Virginia Nance, Sherrie Nance, Crystal Beckman, Karen Latvis, David Creech, Jason Creech, Andrew Creech, Aaron Creech and Ian Creech.
Great grandmother of 24. Joshua, Tyler, Jillian, Jenna, Julianna, Jessa, Justin Jr, Dillon, Devin, Caden, Wesley, Elias, Madaline, Destiney, Keylan, Tyler, Camren, Dominik, Savanna, Cameron, Elisha, Sarai, Kaydence and Desiree.
Her funeral service will be held on Monday June 6th at 11:00AM in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth St. (Rte. 58 at the rotary circle) Whitman. Burial will follow in the Mt Vernon Cemetery, Abington. Visitation will be held on Sunday June 5th from 3:00-5:00PM. Memorial donations may be made to the South Shore Visiting Nurse Association, 100 Bayside Dr., Braintree, MA 02184