H. Martha (Gruber) Ford, age 85, died March 7, 2008, at Nason Hospital in Roaring Spring.
Mrs. Ford was born November 18, 1922, the daughter of Karl Heinrich and Elisabeth (Webera) Gruber of 31st Street in Altoona. Mrs. Ford was a 1940 graduate of Altoona Area High School, and a 1944 graduate of Shippensburg University. She married Donald Lehman Ford of Beale Avenue, Altoona, in June, 1943. Mrs. Ford taught in the Altoona school system before becoming a full-time mother and homemaker. For many years the Fords lived in Latrobe and Greensburg while Mr. Ford worked for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mrs. Ford moved her family to Warriors Mark in 1964, following Mr. Ford’s death.
Mrs. Ford was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Tyrone, where she served on the vestry; and later of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Altoona. Mrs. Ford was also a long-time supporter of the Warriors Mark-Franklin Volunteer Fire Company. She moved to Homewood Retirement Community in November, 2000.
Mrs. Ford was predeceased by her parents and her siblings Louise Gruber Snyder of Santa Maria, California; Mary Gruber Swarts of State College; Carl Gruber of Denver; and Otto Gruber of Los Angeles; and by her sister-in-law Mary Elizabeth Ford of Altoona. She is survived by her children Karen and husband David Washabau of Flagstaff, Arizona; Kim and wife Karen Ford of Elmhurst, Illinois; and Don Ford of Iowa City, Iowa; grandchildren Robert and Kathryn Ford of Chicago; her niece Marilyn Snyder Fail of Santa Maria, California; her cousin Julia von Uiblagger of Munich, Germany; and nieces and nephews in Massachusetts, California, and Utah.
A memorial service for Mrs. Ford is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at the Homewood Community Chapel, 430 South Market Street, Martinsburg. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Altoona, Habitat for Humanity, or the Warriors Mark-Franklin Volunteer Fire Company, Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania.
Arrangements are by The Good Funeral Home, Inc., located at the Alto-Reste Park Cemetery. Interment is at Alto-Reste Park.
