Marjorie “Marge” Martin
“Her years of life don’t begin to tell the story of how much she gave to others during her 86 years on earth.”
Marjorie Ellen Martin passed peacefully at home on February 5, 2026, surrounded by her family, with Leroy holding her hand. Born in Jackson, Ohio to Walter and Myrtle Hess, she married the love of her life, Leroy, on May 6, 1961. She is survived by Leroy and their children Kenneth, Ellen, and Ronald (and daughter-in-law Cecilia, widow of their son Jeffrey); grandchildren Courtney, Yvonne, and Gracie; and great-granddaughter Zoe.
Marge’s life was filled with physical challenges that led Leroy to call her his “Bionic Woman.” In spite of them, she kept a positive attitude and had a smile for everyone. She served quietly, led by example, and had a rare gift for noticing beauty in the simplest things.
“Good Morning Everyone”
Around 2020, Marge began posting what family and friends fondly called her daily weather report. Almost every morning she would begin the same way — “Good Morning Everyone” — then look out the window and describe the day: whether the sun was shining, whether it looked good for a walk. She’d mention the little things — a nice walk with Leroy and Jetson, or that Leroy was off at Kiwanis or playing golf — and close by sending blessings and encouragement to everyone for a wonderful day. When her eyesight and health made writing harder, she asked Leroy to post them for her. And he did, every day, because those little messages meant so much to her.
Quiet determination
Every single morning, before her feet ever hit the floor, Marge did thirty leg lifts. She and Leroy took daily walks through the neighborhood with the dog, and she was faithful about getting out there. When she grew weaker and could no longer walk outside, she didn’t give up — she adapted, walking laps around the house, counting each one, resting, then getting up to do a few more. That was Marge: quiet, steady determination.
A servant’s heart
As First Lady of the Ohio District of Kiwanis, Marge spearheaded the First Lady’s Project, helping raise $30,000 for children’s hospitals at a time of great need. She remained active in two Kiwanis clubs and gave regularly to the Haven of Rest Mission. She was especially devoted to children — providing food and clothing, and wrapping Christmas gifts for families at the Middlebury Chapel in Akron. Many still remember her motivational speech, drawn from Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, delivered at clubs and conferences around Ohio.
Adventures together
Marge loved to travel. She and Leroy visited 47 of the 50 states, along with Montreal, Quebec, and Acapulco. She rode in a submarine off Maui and a helicopter over Kauai — where the pilot tipped the aircraft nose-down, and Marge only laughed. She may be the only mother to ride on two U.S. Navy ships: once around Santa Catalina Island on Leroy’s ship, and decades later from Hawaii to San Diego aboard their daughter Ellen’s ship, where she had the honor of pinning a Surface Warfare qualification.