Mrs. Betty J. Martin

DALTON - Betty J. Martin passed away at Berkshire Medical Center on February 20, 2018. The daughter of a metallurgical engineer, and older sister to an aeronautical engineer (and eventual airline executive), Betty was born in Muncie, Indiana in May 1925. Betty was driven from a young age by a strong desire to understand how things work. This interest led her to a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1945 from Purdue University, graduating just shy the top of her class. A member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honorary, Betty graduated in two and a half years of the (normally) four year program. She chose to stay with her engineering class, almost entirely men, as the program was accelerated to produce more commissioned military officers, as part of the war effort. After graduation, Betty worked as a research engineer at E. I. du Pont de Nemours (DuPont) Central Research, in Wilmington, Delaware. Among other projects, she helped design petroleum cracking distillation towers, used in petrochemical refineries, and submarine potable water distillation systems. She used her unoccupied time to translate German technical journals into English in the company library. After having met earlier at Purdue, Betty and Lee D. Martin married in February 1946, in Quantico, Virginia, which began a true partnership which lasted almost forty-nine years to his passing in November 1994. Betty left DuPont to join Lee, as he trained to become a U.S. Marine Corps officer, as a member of the First Basic Class at The Basic School, in Quantico, Virginia. As he pursued his duty to his country, Lee received his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, with an option in Chemistry, from George Washington University in 1958 (night school), and a Master of Science degree in Management and Industrial Engineering (Math concentration) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1963. Lee retired from the service in late 1966, by then having progressed to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Betty and Lee’s time stationed on Guam, after the end of the war, in particular, was notable, as was living in quarters in Norfolk Naval Shipyard. At the conclusion of military service, the family, now including Mary (Toohey) and William, moved from Albany, Georgia to Dalton, Massachusetts, as Lee went on to a second career at General Electric Ordnance Systems in Pittsfield, becoming Chief Scientist and Manager of Technical Planning, among other titles, until his retirement in 1986. Lee was also a member of the Elfun Society. Later, Betty partook in the long-distance care of her mother, who passed away just prior to her one-hundredth birthday in 2000. During this time, Betty’s son William moved back to Massachusetts to share life with her and the pets, a close and trusting relationship which lasted to her passing. Betty took pride in her family’s educational and career accomplishments. Both children earned graduate degrees in a variety of fields, and went on to successful careers of their own. She and her son also completed the Dalton Police Department’s 2009 Citizen Police Academy, a course that she recommended to anybody interested in the application and enforcement of the law. The common interest resulted in new friendships, and a broader and greater understanding of not only police work, but criminal and civil law - things she felt everyone should know. Betty also leaves a grandson, James (Marty) Toohey. Betty greatly enjoyed the company of the coffee group she was part of for many years. Her friendliness, grace, caring, wit, sparkling eyes, and smile will be missed by many. Betty was a member of the First Congregational Church of Dalton for many years. Along with her husband Lee, Betty was a long-standing member of the Eastern English Springer Spaniel Club, in which she served as Treasurer for some years. Betty and Lee spent many hours training and showing various breeds of dogs, including obedience, and had many friends, two-legged and four. A classical piano player at the advanced performance and technical level, Betty also encouraged the musical development of her children into something that would be enjoyed for a lifetime. Later, she and William enjoyed being an active part of the Falcetti organ group for many years, which also became the basis of many long-lasting friendships. Betty took pride in planting and maintaining her flower gardens. The gardens would stay in variegated color through most of the year, as the various species bloomed in cycle. She also enjoyed the accomplishment of doing yard work all her life, and was looking forward to continuing driving after recovery. Betty loved wildlife and nature photography. It was always fun to stop at a lake, stream, or park to watch and feed the ducks, geese, swans, squirrels and chipmunks on a beautiful day. If not, the front steps, or back patio or bench was a great place for quiet time to enjoy the scenery and watch the birds and small animals. She loved visiting the (former) Catskill Game Farm and the Metro Toronto Zoo, among other places. She also took up train watching and photography with her son, and was fascinated with models and model railroads. A perfectionist at knitting, crochet, and sewing, Betty dressed in coordinated style, and enjoyed clothes shopping. Betty always pursued excellence, and appreciated a job well done. Through the years, she worked with compassion to understand the background and details of problems or difficult situations. After defining such problems, which frequently involved breaking them down into smaller pieces, she explored options, planned, prioritized, and steadily worked responsibly through to solve them thoroughly with patience and perseverance. She continued to learn, making frequent visits to the bookstore, using the Internet for research, and watching and reading college-level coursework on a variety of subjects. She pursued keen interests in numerous areas of science and engineering, and in architecture, software design, and finance. In the face of life’s challenges and problems, Betty showed courage, dignity, and mental toughness. She worked with or gained the assistance or support of others as prudent or necessary. She was a confident, open-minded listener with a first-rate memory and a strong sense of ethics. She treated others with respect. It is common to hear others mention her warmth, decency, and communication/people skills. Not one to dwell on negativity or defeat, Betty would take a positive outlook, sometimes using an observation or a joke as a catalyst to either move on or to find better ways to frame a problem to solve it. Invariably, the problem was solved. At times her energy and drive were surprising. Betty wanted to acknowledge the unwavering support and diligence of her son all these years, as well as the caring of neighbors during her intended short-term physical rehabilitation. Betty and her family are very appreciative for the dedication, care, encouragement, kindness, and staying true to her mission and objective of full recovery of so many in the medical and supporting professions, which lasted until the Lord peacefully took her home. FUNERAL NOTICE: In accordance with Betty’s wishes, a graveside service in good, warmer weather will be held Friday April 27, 2018 at 1 PM at the Ashuelot Cemetery in Dalton, with Fr. Christopher Malatesta officiating. In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to the Berkshire Humane Society in Betty’s memory, in care of the Bartlett-Wellington Funeral Home.

Mrs. Betty J. Martin

May 21, 1925 - February 20, 2018