Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home & Crematorium
1118 Virginia St., E.
Charleston, WV
(304) 342-8135
LOUISE MARTIN died of natural causes on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at the Hubbard House Hospice facility. She was 88 years old. Her mother named her Ruth Louise. However, Louise later decided to use her middle name.
She was born on April 25, 1934, in Charleston, WV. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Burton Martin.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Burton and Gail, and two brothers who died in infancy. Both of her parents were from Greenbrier County.
Louise never married and had no children. Any known relatives are also elderly. She attended Calvary Baptist Church in Charleston. She attended until a stroke made her housebound approximately five years ago.
She attended Stonewall Jackson High School. Her teaching certification was obtained after graduation from Concord College. She later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a Master's Degree in Library Science.
Her teaching career was with the Kanawha County School System in Charleston. She was the school librarian at Sissonville, then John Adams Jr. High Schools. After retirement, she was a substitute teacher at various Kanawha County Schools. She also worked as a coordinator and guide at the World Travel Agency.
She enjoyed reading, traveling, arts and crafts, and hiking. With her father, she was a member of the Kanawha Trail Club for several years.
She loved animals, and always had at least one cat. One of her cats, Kiwi, lived to age 22 years. In childhood, she had a dog named Nikki, who protected her.
Her beloved cat, Patches, adopted her three years ago. He has kept her company and watched over her as well as any cat could.
She had a special passion for dancing throughout her life. In recent years, she performed with the Capital City Tappers and RM Productions, giving her final performance at age 82.
She is survived by special friends Jane Beman, Maggie Ginther, Nikki Lawman, and Jean Rick, a former student.
Funeral Service will be 12 Noon Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, 1118 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV, with Rev. Dr. Archie Snedegar officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, Charleston, WV.
Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent and seen at .
Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, WV, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
