Martha Kathryn Coles

Rev. Martha Kathryn Budd Coles, 90, of Waynesboro, PA, passed away at home on Monday, September 25, 2017. She was the sole survivor of her immediate family.

Martha was born on March 28, 1927 on Baltimore Pike in the hallow in Landsdowne Delaware County, PA. She was the daughter of the late Martha May (Worthington) and Benjamin Parker Budd.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Rev. Robert Nelson Coles, Sr. on October 23, 2011. Also preceded in death by her son, Nelson Robert Coles in 2006; two infant children, Martha Rebecca and Donald Lee (twin to Nelson); grandson, Christopher Michael Bauer; granddaughter, Stephanie May Pearson; two brothers, Benjamin and Milton Budd; and two sisters, Anna Budd and June Card.

She is survived by a son, Robert N. Coles, Jr. (Carrie) of Muncie, Indiana; daughters, Marsha L. Pearson (Bill) of Horseheads, NY., Emily E. Coles and Verna M. Brown both of Waynesboro, PA., Charlotte K. Zeis (Tim) of Mercersburg, PA.; daughter-in-law, Tonya J. Coles of Hagerstown, MD.; and brother-in-law, Dr. William R. Coles of Branchdale, PA. Martha was a proud grandmother to 19; great-grandmother "GG" to 34 and great-great-grandmother to 3. She was a dearly loved aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Martha graduated from Sharon Hill High School, Sharon Hill Hts., PA. class of 1946. Throughout her life she was devoted to her family and to the work of the ministry. Serving with her husband she went on to graduate in 1956 as an ordained minister from the Salvation Army Sword Bearer's Session Training College. Her ministry allowed her to serve with the Salvation Army, The Volunteers of America and the American Rescue Workers. She retired from the ministry in 1998 after serving in 9 states and 16 cities. She felt blessed that she was able to serve in the ministry with her husband and was able to raise her family while continuing to minister to the less fortunate. She was proud of her work in Elmira, NY in the 1960's, where she assisted in building a new church and thrift store while developing programs for at-risk youth and establishing a Christmas Food Basket program (helping over 700 families). In 1969 Martha, along with her husband and family, moved to Hagerstown, where she served as Colonel with the Volunteers of America. She developed and operated 3 group homes for teenage children for over 13 years. Martha continued to work after her retirement, employed as a cook with both the Hagerstown Day Nursery and Waynesboro Day Care. Finally retiring from employment at age 83, Martha was devoted to caring for her ailing husband.

She was a member of The First Christian Church in Hagerstown. She became a member of SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care and Hospice in 2011. Her hobbies were writing stories, poetry, gardening and needlework. Family, faith and friends were the anchors in which she lived her life and were the values which she instilled in her children and extended family.

A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00pm on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Rest Haven Funeral Home, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. Burial will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Friday, Oct. 6th from 6-8pm at the funeral home.

Because of Martha's lifelong ministry in working with at risk children and the wonderful care and compassion that was shown to her during her time of need, the family requests in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to either Big Brother Big Sisters of Washington County, 1037 Haven Road, Hagerstown, MD 21742 or to SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care and Hospice, 840 Fifth St., Chambersburg, PA 17201.