Virgie Corine Martens, 78, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, at Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita.
She is survived by her husband, Albert Martens, Coldwater; four children, Beth Ringwald and her husband, Dennis, Iola, David Martens and his wife, Cheryl, Enid, Okla., Becky Sherman and her husband, Mark, Coldwater, and Mike Martens and his wife, Elena, Anchorage, Alaska; a brother, Ralph Kirkham, Wichita; 12 grandchildren, Travis Ringwald, Amy Lewis and her husband, Mark, Tyler Ringwald, Kris Martens, Brian Martens, Brandon Martens, Dan Martens, Matt Sherman and his wife, Melissa, Meghan Lem and her husband, Leland, Chelsey Jackson and her husband, Evan, Gleb Martens and Forrest Martens; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Three brothers, Edward, Robert and Donald Kirkham, and two sisters, Opal Custer and Marjorie Arnold, died earlier.
She was born May 21, 1932, in Canton, Okla., to Ezra and Myrle Ella (Brown) Kirkham.
On July 24, 1950, she married Albert Martens in Corder, Mo.
She was a longtime resident of Wilmore, moving there in 1960, and had lived in Coldwater since 2005. She graduated as valedictorian from Longdale High School in Longdale, Okla., in 1950. Her memberships included Wilmore Federated Church, United Methodist Women and Wilmore Extension Homemakers Unit. She was a former member of the Coldwater Library Advisory Board. She was a contract mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 32 years. She was an avid quilter and made numerous quilts for family members on special occasions. She also liked gardening and growing flowers.
Funeral service were this afternoon at United Methodist Church in Coldwater. The Rev. Gary Merritt officiated. Burial was in Wilmore Cemetery.
Memorials to Wilmore Federated Church, Coldwater United Methodist Church or Comanche County Hospital may be sent in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.
Virgie Martens
