Mary Eleanor Martin - Obituary

ary Eleanor Martin 1918-2013 Mary Eleanor Dolby was born at home in the early hours of a bitter cold, snowy morning on January 9, 1918 in Washington D.C. to her parents, Bird H. Dolby and Lelia Drucilla Burrows Dolby. Eleanor and her younger brother, Robert (Bobby), were raised in Mt.Rainier, Maryland. She loved her family’s yearly summer vacations to a cabin in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Her most memorable childhood trip was when her father took her out of the 1st grade for several months as the family traveled by steamship to Havana, Cuba and Panama. Eleanor graduated from Mt. Rainier High School. After graduation she worked as a clerk for Publishing Co. in Washington DC .and at night attended Strayer Business College. Afterwards, she worked in her father’s law office as his secretary for several years. She married Norman Link Martin on September 24, 1938 at the age of 20. Eleanor and Norman raised three children, Geraldine (Gerry), Ronald (Bo) and Bonnie in Mt. Rainier and later in Adelphi Maryland. Eleanor’s highest achievement was that of an exceptionally wonderful wife and mother. Eleanor was completely devoted to her family as they were the most important element of her life. As a model homemaker she was constantly cooking, cleaning or tending to her children all the while in a pair of high heels! Summers were spent vacationing at Selby on the Bay where fishing, swimming and eating crabs were a daily event. Relatives and friends were always gathered at the beach cottage as Eleanor loved to cook and entertain for them. Eleanor’s love of family gatherings was also celebrated at every holiday throughout the year, every year. Being surrounded by her loved ones was what made Eleanor the happiest. Eleanor had an unwavering faith in God which she gleaned from her father. Her faith gathered even more strength when she married Norman as they both held a deep reverence for their Lord. Eleanor was a member of ADAH Chapter #25 of the Eastern Star until its dissolve several years ago. In their retirement years, Eleanor and Norman moved from Adelphi to Saunders Point in Edgewater Maryland where they enjoyed a magnificent view of the Chesapeake Bay. Eleanor loved to crochet. She exchanged her high heels for slippers and sat each day by their big picture window, that overlooked Thomas Point Lighthouse, and crocheted blanket after blanket until she had made one for each of her children, grandchildren and then some. Eleanor and Norman were married for 58 years before Norman passed away in October 1996. Eleanor spent the last 10 years of her life at South River Rehabilitation Center always surrounded by her loving and devoted family. Eleanor, the mother of three, grandmother of 6 and great-grandmother of 7, and Auntie of nieces and nephews, leaves behind a loving family who will miss her and remember her always. A Memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 at Chesapeake Christian Fellowship, 377 W. Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 100 Painters Mill Road, Suite 800, Owings Mill, MD 21117 or to the Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 309. Lisbon, MD 21765. Website links to these organizations are located in the left column of this page. An online guestbook is available by accessing the link above.