Martha Hoffman (Wharton)

Martha Lou Hoffman, 88, passed away Friday, February 1, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw, Indiana. Martha was born December 31, 1930 in Claypool, Indiana to Harmon and Thelma (Ford) Wharton.

She lived most of her life in Claypool, Indiana graduating from Claypool High School where she played saxophone in the marching band. On July 10, 1954 in Akron, Indiana she and Edward A. Hoffman were joined in holy matrimony. They roller skated together for many years at Rock Lake Skating Rink, attended Mount Pleasant Church in Claypool where they shared their musical talents and spent several winters together in Gulf Shores, AL involved with an active Snow Bird group.

Spring, summer, and fall you could find Martha in her garden tending flowers and herbs while in cooler months she focused on quilting, oil painting or researching genealogy. Awarded Our Lady of Kosciusko in 1998 after years of volunteer service including Daughters of American Revolution, United Methodist Women, Order of Eastern Star, Red Bird Mission Hospital Auxiliary, 4H, Home Health Care, and Red Cross. Additionally she served on the boards of Grace Children’s Hospital, International Child Care, and United Methodist District Missions.

Martha was best known for her work in Haiti which began in 1969. For 13 years she held local craft bazaars to raise money for Grace Children’s Hospital, a tuberculosis hospital for children. She and Ed raised community awareness by leading tour group trips to Haiti. Her focus broadened to include more missions and she began facilitating volunteers (80 at last count) to sew, donate fabric and transport tons of finished product to Haiti. Most recently one of the missions created “Martha’s Sewing Group”, where they teach young ladies to work with fabric.

Martha will be lovingly remembered and missed by her family including 2 daughters and sons-in-laws: Kathy and Bill Hamman of Winona Lake, Indiana and Michelle Hoffman and Don Hirschaut of Aptos, California; 4 grandchildren: Jay Hamman of Winona Lake, Indiana; Sara (Hamman) McConnell of Warsaw, Indiana; Meridith Hirschaut of Berkley, California; Nathan Hirschaut of New York City, NY; and 2 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends will come together for sharing Wednesday, February 6th from 3-7 p.m. at Titus Funeral Home in Warsaw, Indiana. There will be an additional hour of visitation prior to the funeral. A service celebrating Martha’s life will take place Thursday, February 7th at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Officiating will be Pastor Glenn Hall. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw. The family has asked that gifts in Martha's memory be directed to Haiti’s Little Angels, PO Box 151, Vero Beach, FL 32961.