Rita Martin

Rita Mae (McGowan) Martin age 91 passed away on February 13, 2020 in Carmel, Indiana. Rita was born on February 28, 1928 in her family home to Bernard and Bernice (Smith) McGowan of Darlington, Wisconsin. At just age four, Rita began first grade. She graduated from Darlington High School in 1944 at age sixteen. Thereafter she attended the State Teachers College in Platteville where she completed courses in Rural Education and began teaching in Lafayette County. In August 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert D. Martin. During the next 33 years, as part of her husband's career with Ford Motor Company, the family was transferred to eight different cities. Together they raised their four children, and at age 52, Rita returned to college and received her Bachelor of General Studies degree from University of Nebraska-Omaha. In addition, Rita took many enrichment classes during her lifetime, such as Bridge, Art Appreciation, and Calligraphy, a "trademark" that she still used when addressing every piece of personal mail that she sent. In 1985, Rita and Robert temporarily retired in Scottsdale, Arizona, before deciding to return to their beloved Darlington, where her husband Robert was employed with Citizens National Bank for a number of years. Following Robert's passing, Rita sold her Darlington home and moved to Indiana in 2014 to be closer to family. Rita was a special combination of gentle yet strong. She was always stylish and graceful. She was an avid reader, always having a book that she was currently reading, and she enjoyed learning about her family's genealogy. Rita often expressed her gratitude for the good health that she enjoyed until her passing. Her long life was a blessing to her family and friends. She leaves behind a legacy of which she was very proud: son Robert (Nancy) Martin of Scottsdale, Arizona; son Richard (Toni) Martin of Great Falls, Montana; daughter Nancy (Tom) Cook of New Orleans, Louisiana; and daughter Melissa (Chip) Clark of Carmel, Indiana; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, three sisters and one brother. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert in 2013, parents Bernard and Bernice, granddaughter Claire McGowan Cook, two brothers, one sister, in-laws, and family members. A memorial mass will be held Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (104 E. Harriet St., Darlington) with Rev. Luke Syse officiating. Burial will be in Holy Rosary Cemetery. A visitation will be held Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.