Martha Louise Henniger

Martha (Marty) Louise Henniger was born June 26th 1936 in Marietta Ohio. She took her last breath and entered her heavenly home June 15th, 2020. Marty was born the second of 8 children to Eugene Alvin and Anna Elizabeth Walters. The Walters household was busy and full! At a young age Marty was often called on to help nurture and care for her younger siblings, a task she relished with great joy, never complaining. Each of her brothers and sisters have stories to tell of her tender care for them, in one way or another for their entire lives. As a child Marty was a bright and successful student at school and very well liked. In High School she was on the cheerleading squad. She grew up on the family farm in Churchtown till junior high school, when the family moved to a farm in Beverly and then during high school the family moved across the river to Rainbow. While she attended high school she started her first job in Lowell, as a waitress at "The Clean Spot". It was while she was there she met the love of her life Donald Geddes Henniger. Don and Marty were a real life version of "Pump Boys and Dinettes!" He pumped gas while she waited tables. Don was a man of few words and Marty had plenty, they were a perfect pair. They got married right out of high school in January of 1951 and lived happily ever after for almost 63 years. Don passed away in October of 2018. That was a heartbreaking time for her. Don and Marty lived an adventurous life moving across the country to San Diego, California, then to Jacksonville Florida, New Jersey, to California again, then Connecticut and finally back to California were they settled in Visalia for the remainder of their lives. Don was in the Navy so between all these moves he was often out to sea, leaving Marty to hold down the fort at home which she did with grace and valor. She was strong, independent, brave and hard working. She held down many different jobs, but the majority of her career was in banking as a teller. However, her best job, the one that brought the most joy was being mom to her children, Davis Kriss, Melissa Lynn, her husband, James and Kristin Ann. Marty was the consummate room mom at their schools, club scout den mother, Girl Scout leader and their biggest cheerleader. Their official count was 3 children, but many times over the years Don and Marty took in her brothers and sisters to help them get their feet wet in life, she also took in and cared for her mother for quite some time. Marty's door was always open as was her heart. That door opened wide when her children brought home friends, that quickly became family. She proudly counts as her own Marisa and Raul Alvarado and JoAnn and Rene Garcia. These 2 families brought to her 4 beautiful grandchildren, who were the light and joy of her life. She was proud to be Grandma Marty to Miranda, and Clarissa Alvarado and Sebastian and Christian Garcia, she rarely missed their school and sporting events and they rarely missed family holidays and gatherings. There's was a sweet, tender and binding love. Preceding Marty in death are her parents, Eugene and Anna Walters, her sister Mary Ann, her brother Tom and his wife Arlene, and their son Eric. Her sister Jane Davis. Her husband Don Henniger. Marty is survived by her brother Tom's children, May, Melanie, Mindy her husband Craig, Marcia, Megan and her husband Tony. Her sister Jane's children, Steve, his wife Tammy, Krysti, her husband Josh, Greg, his wife Josette, Mary and her husband David. Her sister Helen, and husband Dick, their 4 children, Judy, Rick, Cindy, her husband Walt and Joe. Her brother Bob, his wife Miriam, and their children, Rhett, his wife Kim, Ryan, his wife Sarah, Robo and his wife Cherry. Her sister Jeanne and her son Nick. Her brother Jim, his wife Brenda, and their children Bryan, his wife Betsy, and Hannah. Add to this a boatload of great and great great Neices and nephews! Many remembrances do not take the time to list so many...but for Marty, who held each of these in her heart so deeply, it would just be wrong. Her family was her everything. We love that about her most, because, as family we are the benefactors of her unconditional love. To say Marty will be greatly missed is the understatement of the century. Rest In Peace precious one.

Martha Louise Henniger

June 26, 1936 - June 15, 2020