Born and raised in southern Michigan, Dorothy graduated from Hurley School of Nursing and then served as an Army Nurse Second Lieutenant from 1944-46 on the island of Tinian in Japan. Subsequent to her service she attended Valparaiso University in Indiana. After a whirlwind romance in 1947 she married the late Rev. Paul Martens and accompanied him to the missionary field in Hankow China. Later, in addition to being a full time mother, she worked nights as an RN at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis for 25 years. A life-long Lutheran, she accompanied her husband to churches he pastored in St. Louis, MO, Johnson City, TN, and at Trinity Lutheran Church, Memphis, TN where she was a member from 1957 until her death. She very much enjoyed being the archivist for Trinity’s history for many years.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Paul, her son, Jonathan, as well as her parents, 3 sisters, a brother, a son-in-law, one grandchild and one great grandchild. Left to cherish her memory are her children – Lois Martens, Paula Martens, Janet (Chuck) Lorenz, Timothy (Lindley) Martens, Mary Beth Long, James P. Martens, Christine (Glen) Smith. She is also survived by sister Helen Cox and brother Larry Sohn. She was grandmother to 12 (Chris, Jenny, Melissa, Danniger, Alexandria, Victoria, Christian, Nathaniel, Brooks, Laurel, Kevin, Tim), great grandmother to 22 (Doty, Brenna, Davis, Bailey, Jack, Ally, Chase, Camden, Ephraim, Isaiah, Tesla, Axl, Lincoln, Sophia, Graham, Aliza, Britney, Tracy, Jaron, Ashly, Ethan, Trevor) and great-great grandma to 6 (Loren, Jackson, Bryant, Brinnel, Harper, Hannah). She will be greatly missed by a host of other family and friends.
The family wishes to acknowledge Dorothy’s wonderful caregivers at Kings Daughters and Sons, Bartlett, TN as well as the loving staff of Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ, and especially Marie, Maricris and Joe.
A private family burial will be in historic Elmwood Cemetery and a memorial will be held later. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Trinity Lutheran Church, 210 Washington Ave, Memphis, TN 38103 or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St, Bldg 2, Phoenix, AZ 85014
There will be a memorial service celebrating her Life on April 25, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. with visitation from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 210 Washington, Memphis, TN 38103.
