Martha Lou Howe

SERVICES: 10:00 a.m. Saturday April 25, 2015 at Jewell- Rittman Family Funeral home OFFICIATING CLERGY: Rev. Marcus Speer and Rev. Dave Huey FINAL RESTING PLACE: Hope Moravian Cemetery VISITATION: 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Post Polio Syndrome or Arc of Bartholomew County to go towards autism research Martha Lou Howe, 85, of Columbus, died at 12:18 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at Miller's Merry Manor. Martha was born November 11, 1929 in Jennings County, Indiana, the daughter of Leonard Dale and Oletha Mary (French) Foist. She married Robert M. Howe June 20, 1948. Martha was a member of Burnsville Christian Church where she was also a Sunday school teacher and vacation Bible school teacher for many years and held several offices in Women's Council including president. Martha headed the prayer chain for many years and loved doing it. She attended Bible Study Fellowship for seven years. Being a farmer's wife, Martha worked with her husband on the farm for many years. After being afflicted with polio at the age of 22, Martha lived a full and wonderful life even though she had to deal with it's effects. She was a loving parent, grandma and loved being called "Grandma Great" and "Mammaw Great" by her great-grandchildren. Survivors include; son, Kenny (Shannon) Howe of Columbus; daughter, Kathy (Dwain "Shorty") Murphy of Elizabethtown; brothers, Robert D. (Thelma) Foist and Carroll (Marilyn) Foist both of Columbus; grandchildren, Brad Howe, Jamie (Amy) Howe, Eryn (Travis) Mitchell and Josh (Carissa) Murphy; and great-grandchildren, Brady and Wyatt Mitchell, Brayden and Jayden Howe, Jared Baker, Maggie Wagner and Matthew Murphy. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Robert.