Martin, Mary Jo

Mary Jo Martin, 83, of Blacksburg, Va., passed away in the afternoon of Thursday, February 12, 2009. She is originally from Muskogee, Okla., where she still has many close friends.

She graduated from the University of Oklahoma where she received a BS degree in business administration. Mary Jo was an active member of Newcomers for a number of years following a move to Blacksburg from Corning, N.Y., in 1965. She served on the board of directors of the local American Red Cross, and was a long time member of Northside Presbyterian Church, joining in July of 1970 and serving on the Fellowship Committee as well as teaching Sunday School. As an alumni of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, Mary Jo played a major part in first establishing the Local Chapter on the campus of Virginia Tech.

Survivors include her husband, Robert H. Martin; a son, Robert Jr., of Atlanta, Ga.; a daughter-in-law, Barbara; and four grandchildren.

Mary Jo was famous to her close Blacksburg friends for saying that when she died she wanted to go to Heaven, play the piano without ever practicing, eat chocolates without getting fat, and make red roses from cake icing.

A memorial service will be observed 11 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, February 28, 2009, at the Northside Presbyterian Church followed by a brief reception. The Rev. Dr. Linda Dickerson will officiate. Rather than flowers, donations may be given to the Memorial Fund of Northside Presbyterian Church, 1017 Progress St., N.W., Blacksburg, Va. 24060.