Martha Jane Barr Mathey

Martha Jane Barr Mathey, age 98, of New Braunfels, Texas, passed away there on August 18, 2018. Martha had resided in New Braunfels the past six years, having moved there from Dover.

Born June 24, 1920 in Fresno, she was the daughter of the late Rev. John E. and Ethel Cooper Barr. Martha lived much of her childhood in Waterford, Pennsylvania, and, when she was a young lady, her family moved to New Concord where Martha graduated high school in 1938. She went on to study at Muskingum College, graduating in 1942.

Martha began a career in public education teaching in Mineral City, and it was there that she met her future husband, Julius H. “Juke” Mathey, a returning Marine Corps veteran of the Second World War. They were married on May 4, 1946 in New Concord, made their home in Mineral City, and Martha became a full-time wife and mother. She returned to teaching in Mineral City in the late 1950’s, and later moved to Dover City Schools at East Elementary, retiring in 1981.

She was a long-time member of St. Paul’s Community Church, Mineral City, and later attended New Philadelphia’s First Presbyterian Church. Martha enjoyed participation in the Tuscarawas County Teachers Association, several local quilting groups, genealogy research and the Red Hat Society. She was also a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma, Delta Phi Chapter, and was a a proud Buckeye all of her life, following Ohio-based sports teams through good times and bad.

Martha and Juke enjoyed visiting with family and friends. They were enthusiastic travelers and often journeyed to see far away family members and Marine Corps buddies. Martha visited all fifty of the United States, finishing the quest in Rhode Island in 2009.

Survivors include her sons, Thomas E. (Mary) and Dean A. (Becky) Mathey; her grandchildren, Hunt (Jackie) Sparra, Benjamin (Stella), Daniel and Mark Mathey; her great-grandson, Hunt Jackson Sparra; her sister-in-law, Evelyn Mathey; and her eldest nieces, Peggy Walker and Ann Barr.

In addition to her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Juke, on March 30, 1998; and her brother, John A. Barr.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, on Saturday, September 22, 10 - 11 a.m.; a memorial service, officiated by Pastor Elden Smith of Faith Community Church, Canton, will follow. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Sandyville. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Martha, please visit the obituaries link on the Toland-Herzig website.

The family suggests that contributions in Martha’s memory be made to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.