Martha A. Gilsdorf, age 95, of Marion, died Friday morning, April 1, 2011, at Heartland of Marion following over a two year illness.
On February 11, 1916, Martha was born in Byesville, Ohio, the 9th of ten children of the late Charles and Nancy (Coulter) Anderson. She graduated from Byesville High School in the Class of 1934.
On February 17, 1935, Martha married the love of her life, Herman A. Gilsdorf. Together they shared over 50 wonderful years of marriage, until he preceded her in death on March 23, 1986.
Primarily, Martha was a loving homemaker for her husband and two children, but she also had a love for home decorating. Martha and Herman were always working on projects throughout their house together, often decorating every inch of their house themselves. To help with their home decorating, Martha worked for many years as the manager of the drapery department in Sears. Later, she worked at a decorating shop in Canton, Ohio, within their drapery department.
A woman of faith, Martha was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Marion. She was also very active with the “quilters” at the Central Christian Church.
“A tremendous cook, everything that came out of Martha’s kitchen was fantastic.” She also enjoyed coordinating church meals for as many as fifty to one hundred people on a regular basis in both Coshocton and Steubenville.
With a knack for sewing, there wasn’t anything Martha couldn’t make with a needle and thread. And when she wasn’t making draperies, she would appliqué and quilt.
She will be missed by her two sons: Wayne (Marjory) Gilsdorf of Cincinnati, and their two daughters: Julia (Al) Tinsdale and Susan (Doug) Taylor; and Dr. James (Jo) Gilsdorf of Marion, and their five children: James Gilsdorf Jr., Benjamin (Sophia) Gilsdorf, Marti Davis, Claire and Patricia Gilsdorf; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including her husband and parents, Martha was preceded in death by several siblings in infancy as well as her brother, Harry Anderson; and sisters: Bertha Endsley, Esther Stone, Mary Jones, and Anna Catherine Lauer Gibson
The Gilsdorf family will greet friends from 2 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2011, at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion. Services honoring her life will be held on Monday at 11:00 a.m. The family will again greet friends for an hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Byesville, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or the First Presbyterian Church, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
For those wishing to express their private condolences online to Martha’s family, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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