Martha West Looney

MARTHA WEST LOONEY passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 after a lengthy illness. One of nine children, including a twin sister, Martha was born on February 2, 1918 to the Reverend James C. West, a long-time Baptist minister in North Georgia, and Mary Lorena Smith West. Martha lived most of her early life in Elberton, Georgia and graduated from high school in 1936.

After graduation from school, she was employed by a local granite company which required her to walk to the local bank every day. It was during these walks that Martha was noticed by Wilton Looney, who graduated from high school in Royston, Georgia in 1936 and was working in Elberton at a small auto parts company. As soon as Wilton found out who Martha was, they had their first date, after which neither ever had another date with anyone else. This resulted in a time together of almost eighty years, 74 of them in their marriage. They would have married earlier but even with both of them working, they couldn’t afford it.

Much of their early relationship was spent long distance, as Wilton moved to Charlotte for work with Genuine Parts Company and following that was invited by the government to join the Army. As soon as he was promoted to 2nd lieutenant they were married, following which he spent three years in the jungles of Burma with the Army, returning home on their third wedding anniversary.

When Wilton returned from the service, he again went to work for Genuine Parts Company in Atlanta. Though Martha wasn't an employee at Genuine Parts Company, she invested herself in the success of the company by traveling with Wilton from one place to another, becoming acquainted with the families of managers of the Genuine Parts operations around the country. She knew and entertained the wives and children of these operations for as long as she was able to do so. Martha was a constant supporter of her husband in his position as Chairman and CEO of Genuine Parts Company for about forty years.

Martha focused on three areas in her life: her family, her church, and her husband’s career. She was a dedicated member of the Northside Drive Baptist Church where she was active as a Sunday School teacher, president of the Women of the Church, and was instrumental in the design of the sanctuary and stained glass windows in the church. She was one of the first women deacons in her church, at one time serving as a deacon at the same time as Wilton. While she had not been able to attend church in some time, she remained interested and supportive in many different ways.

Martha Looney was a quiet philanthropist throughout her life. She took special interest in her church, the Lovett School, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Shepherd Center, the Carlyle Fraser Heart Center, Mercer University, and Meals on Wheels. Martha strove to make the world a better place for all of us.

Martha suffered from the effects of Polio since 1949, but with pure determination to walk again, she lived a full life, moving with Wilton from Atlanta to New Orleans, New York, Boston, and back to Atlanta in 1955. This inspired her to take a special interest in Rotary International Foundation because of their work to eradicate Polio from the world. She lived to see this work almost completed which was very pleasing to her.

She is survived by her husband of 74 years, Wilton Looney; her daughter Sylvia Looney Dick and son-in-law Bruce Dick; three granddaughters and their husbands: Laura Dick Moses (Tom), Amy Dick Hurst (Matthew), Allison Dick Blaisdell (Andrew); four great-grandchildren: Calvin Ellis Dalke, Taylor Courtney Moses, Charlotte West Dalke, and Henry Winn Hurst.

The family wishes to thank Menders, Inc. for their help in providing wonderful people to assist them over many years. They also want to especially thank the following people: Lillie Johnson, Alicia Honore, Latanya Ballock, Margaret Nonyane, Marvalyn McIndoe, Angela Taylor, Mary Richardson, and Mildred Franklin, as well as the many others who have come in and assisted Martha and Wilton for their many years of help. This group of people made Martha’s life more complete and enjoyable than it would have been without them. The family is eternally grateful to them.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Carlyle Fraser Heart Center c/o Emory University Midtown Hospital, 550 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308; or The Lovett School, 4075 Paces Ferry Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327; or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 6, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at H.M. Patterson & Son- Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, NE, Sandy Springs. There will be a memorial service on Friday, October 7, at 11:00 am at Northside Drive Baptist Church, 3100 Northside Drive, NW, Atlanta, with a reception to follow in the Piedmont Room of the Piedmont Driving Club, 1215 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta.