Martha (Clark) White

Martha White, 85, formerly of Morocco and Kentland, Indiana passed away on July 2, 2023 at Westminster Village in West Lafayette, where she had resided for the past two and a half years.

Martha was born April 26, 1938 in Rensselaer at the Jasper County Hospital to the late George R. and Kathryn (Ball) Clark.  She attended her early years of school in Lafayette and later in Camden before graduating from Morocco High School in 1956.  She then attended Ball State University for two years.  On June 12, 1959 she married Gary C. White of Morocco.  He died on June 27, 2009.

Martha started her career working for the county ASC (Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation) Office in Newton County for ten years before realizing she had a calling to education and obtained her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at Saint Joseph’s College (Rensselaer) in 1971.  This was followed by her Master’s degree in Education from Purdue University in 1976.

Martha taught at Kentland Elementary School (and later South Newton Elementary) from 1971-1997.  She was passionate about teaching and enjoyed the many students that passed through her classroom over the years as well as her colleagues in the South Newton school system.  In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, quilting, traveling, genealogy, scrapbooking, and being with her family, whom she loved very much.  For many years after her retirement, she helped coordinate a school backpack program for the county schools.  She was also a member of Newton County Homemakers, the Newton County Historical Society and the Morocco, and later Kentland, United Methodist Churches.

Martha is survived by three children, Gary Dennis of Zephyrhills, FL, Denise (Alan) Nalley of Plainfield, IL, Steven of Fishers, IN, one granddaughter Katherine Nalley, a cousin, Evelyn Dixon of Overland Park, KS, a sister-in-law, Nelda Kay Lecuyer of Bourbonnais, IL, and several nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents and husband, she is also predeceased by a sister, Virginia Vasquez.

Services will be held at Gerts, Windler, & Keller Funeral Home ~ Brook Chapel on July 8th with visitation from noon to 2 CST, followed by a short service and graveside memorial.  In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Martha’s memory may make a contribution to either the Jefferson Township Community Fund (201 East Graham Street Kentland, IN 47951), the Kentland or Morocco United Methodist Church, or the South Newton Scholarship Fund.

Her family wishes to thank the staff of both Westminster Village and Indiana University hospice care of Lafayette for the great care they provided her as well as those who visited her or sent her cards and letters to brighten her day.

Arrangements entrusted to Gerts, Windler & Keller Funeral Homes ~ Brook Chapel, 129 E. Main St., Brook, IN  47922.  (219) 275-6161.  www.kellerfh.com