Martha Ruth Stevens, 89, of Bellefontaine, passed away Monday evening, Nov. 18, 2019, at Campbell Place.
She was born in Logan County on January 7, 1930, to the late William Henry and Orpha Mabel (Richesen) Shields. Martha was born again, a child of God in the year 1965.
Martha married Richard Cecil Stevens on October 12, 1957, in Angola, Indiana, and he preceded her in death on August 4, 1986. She was also preceded in death by 5 brothers: Harry, Howard, Orville, Albert, and William Shields, and a sister Minnie Drake.
Martha is survived by her son Curtis G. (Donna K.) Bailey of Wapakoneta; former daughter-in-law Diane Bailey of Bellefontaine; four grandchildren: Shane (Kim) Bailey, Paul (fiancée Kelsey) Bailey, Joshua (Chelsey) Bailey, and Dustin (Emily) Bailey; 13 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
A proud graduate of Belle Center High School, Martha was a lifelong member of the Bellefontaine First Church of God, where she was active with the choir, church greeter, and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. Martha worked as a waitress at the Logan Coffee Shop and Silco of Bellefontaine. She was a member of the Harrison Grange, active with the UAW Ford Retirees, volunteered with the Red Cross and Community blood drives, worked as a poll worker for Liberty Township, and bowled for 20+ years with the Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club. With her husband Richard, they were members of the Hi Point See Saws and enjoyed pitching horseshoes as members of the West Liberty Horseshoe Club. In Martha’s own words, she loved God, loved people, and loved life.
Pastor Ron Irick will officiate the funeral service for Martha on Friday, November 22, 2019, at 10am at the Bellefontaine First Church of God. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 21, at Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Bellefontaine, from 2-6pm. Burial will be in Walnut Hill Cemetery, New Hampshire.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Campbell Place, 356 Kent Dr. Bellefontaine, OH 43311, or to Kindred Hospice, 7887 Washington Village Dr. Suite #350, Dayton, OH 45459.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.edsfh.com