Donna J Messer

She was the firstborn child of Schuyler and Mary Fisher Pletcher, her two sisters, Virginia and Karen followed, born in Goshen, Indiana

Her father was a school teacher. Donna attended many different schools growing up as her father moved from school to school. Donna attended Goshen college for 1 year after graduating from Topeka high school. Donna left school and went on to marry Richard Max Martin on 9/3/1949. They were married until the death of Richard in 2006, they were married for 57 years, and had two children, Barbara Ann Martin Born 10/12/1951, and Larry Dean Martin, Born 12/30/1953. Larry died in a motorcycle accident at 21 years old. Donna grew up in northern Indiana but after Richard graduated from Indiana University and got a job in Ohio, they moved there. They raised their children mostly in Grove City Ohio. Both of their children and their 3 grandchildren graduated from Grove City high school. Donna accepted Jesus Christ as her lord and savior at her Mennonite church at the age of 13, when a visiting evangelist came. She was a strong believer ever since. She worked for General Motors at the Columbus Ohio plant, where she met and became friends with Betty and John Messer. John later became her second husband after they both became widowed. She worked at General Motors for 3 years, retiring when her first grandchild Jacob was born, so she could babysit when Barb went back to work. When she returned to work, she worked as a merchandiser for American Greeting Cards. Stocking cards, building and tearing down displays, etc. In various retail stores. She was able to do this in both Ohio and Florida while she was a snowbird. Donna and Richard were snowbirds starting in the late 1970’s owning a mobile home in Palmetto, the family spent many years visiting and vacationing in their home. They sold their mobile home and moved to Florida full time in January of 2005. At the same time as Barb and Mike moved to Florida, Richard was diagnosed with cancer about the same time and died in September 2006. On 1/1 of 2012 Donna married John Robert Messer, they were married for almost 10 years until he passed away in November 2021. Donna was preceded by her parents Schuyler and Mary Pletcher, Her sister,

Virginia Lambright, Her son Larry Dean Martin, and her husbands Richard Max Martin, and John Messer. She is survived by her sister Karen Yoder (Henry), her daughter, and son in law Barb and Michael Stoll. 3 grandchildren 8, great grandchildren. Her first grandson Jacob Stoll, wife Melissa (Nicole), children, Avery, Anna White (Spencer) Andrew and Alexander. Her second grandson, Ethan stoll, wife Rukimini, Children Zahra and Kiran. Finally, her only granddaughter Tabitha McCleery, husband Jordan, and children Liam and Finnegan.

There will be a celebration of life service on Saturday August 9th at 11:00 am. at Gulf Coast Church 1616 59th st. west, Bradenton, FL. 34209. All are welcome.