Martha Louise Vantubergen
"Martie"

July 26, 1930 - October 10, 2014

On Friday afternoon, October the 10th, Martie passed away at home after fighting a courageous battle against cancer. She was born in Bellflower, Illinois and moved with her parents John and Lucille Smith to New Jersey in 1932 and lived there up until 1977 when she moved to Lowell, Vermont. She is survived by her daughter Sunnie and her son Jay, numerous grandchildren, a great grand child, several step daughters and her beloved dog Clancy.

Her accomplishments include graduating from Kent Place, Summit, N.J. in 1948, receiving a Bachelor Degree in Biology at Barnard College, N.Y. in 1952 and continued her education with post graduate work in the Biochemistry Department at Columbia University, N.Y. On May 15, 1953 she was elected as an active member to the New York Academy of Sciences and was a member of the American Association of University Women. While studying at Columbia she met her first husband Thomas W. Murphy who was at the time also attending Columbia Law School. They married on December 21, 1954. In 1970 she was remarried to Richard Vantubergen who introduced her to Vermont.

While living in New Jersey she was accepted into the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) on April 15, 1950 and became a dedicated member of the Loantaka Chapter in Morris Co., N.J. She served as regent, vice regent, recording secretary, and state chairman of the D.A.R. Magazine. She was also chosen as Outstanding Junior Member and State Winner of New Jersey by the National Society of the D.A.R. in 1965. She was selected to appear in the 1966 Edition of Outstanding Young Women of America. Upon moving to Vermont she became a member of the Saint John de Crevecoeur Chapter which is based in the Northeast Kingdom.

Martie loved Vermont. She took up skiing in her forties and loved to cook and entertain for anyone who came to visit. She enjoyed playing the organ at the Westfield Church and took up golf at Orleans Country Club. On September 19, 1990 she had a "Hole In One". Other pursuits included gardening, canning, bridge, solitaire, crafts, sewing, reading, genealogy and fashion: she was a "Coldwater Creek" gal. She loved dogs owning them throughout her life. She also enjoyed traveling especially to Puerto Rico during winter months.

She will always be remembered for her good nature, compassion for others, integrity, generosity, inner strength and boundless energy.

In celebration of her life a memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at the Westfield Church, Westfield, Vt which will be conducted by Dwight Walker, a long time friend who presided as minister for the church. Following the service beverages and desserts will be offered. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory can be made to the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, 4473 Barton Orleans Road, Orleans, Vt. 05860/ 802-754-2228 or the Westfield Congregational Church, P.O. Box 125, Westfield, Vt. 05874. Online condolences can be made at awrfh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of A.W. Rich Funeral Home, Fairfax, Vt.