Martha Gene Sanford, 98, of Evansville, IN passed away on Friday, May 19, 2023 at River Pointe Health Campus. She was born on March 12, 1925 in Nashville, TN to the late Noble F. Cole and Rebecca E. (Hughes) Cole.
Martha graduated from East Nashville High School in 1943. Toward the end of WWII, she worked at the Colonial Baking Company in Nashville. Martha retired from the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation in 1986, after 11 years of service. Martha was a long-time member of Victory Baptist Church where she was a nursery worker for 27 years, and later belonged to Grace Baptist Church. She was a member of the Wednesday Morning Ladies bowling league for 40 years. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter #555 and Bethlehem White Shrine #2.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 27 years, John L. Sanford; daughter, Janet Suzanne Sanford; sister, Dorothy Russell; brothers, Harold C. and Robert G. Cole; daughter-in-law, Kay Sanford; and friend, Nathan Johnson.
She is survived by her sons, Stephen Sanford (Cheryl), Timothy Sanford (Betty), and Joel Sanford (Charmaine); grandchildren, Jerrod Sanford (Monica), Brice Sanford (Beth), Nathanial Sanford (Kate), Aaron Sanford, Ross Sanford, and Jordan Sanford (Lauren); great-grandchildren, Breven Sanford (Abby), Courtney Sanford, Preston Sanford, Sophia Sanford, Joshua Sanford, Owen Sanford, and Gavin Sanford; great-great-granddaughter, Piper Anne Sanford; and multiple nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 12 Noon on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Alexander West Chapel, 2100 W. Illinois St., Evansville IN, 47712, and live-streamed beginning at 11:50 am at www.facebook.com/FuneralStreamUSA. Entombment will take place at a later date in Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may visit from 10:30 am until service time on Saturday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.
Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.
