Martha Katherine Barger

Mrs. Barger was the daughter of the late Dennis and Charline Smith Case, and was the widow of Colonel Dean D. Barger, Sr., Ret. Martha and Dean were married 56 years, and he was “the love of her life.”

She was a proud graduate of the Central High School Class of 1936, and the McKenzie Business College. She worked as a Secretary and Office Manager for Dr. Carl Hartung and Dr. Wesley Stoneburner, and was an active member of South Seminole Baptist Church. With Dean she was active in the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and The Retired Officers Association. She was proud of their military service and enjoyed traveling to visit their many military friends across the country.

Martha loved to drive -- near or far -- anywhere and anytime. She enjoyed telling stories about her early driving experience in her aunt’s Model T Ford. She and Dean drove across the country from coast to coast and from Mexico to Canada. She was always ready for a new adventure. After Dean was gone she organized outings and trips for widows in her church family. She was always busy doing something for others.

She loved to eat out with her friends, family, and her church family. She visited the sick and shut-ins and enjoyed taking food to them -- especially pies! She baked hundreds of them.

She loved her family and made certain we knew it. She was always there to make us feel special - every birthday, every holiday, every phone call. One of the greatest blessings we’ve had in our lives has been to know and love such a generous, kind-spirited lady. The memories of her love and her laughter will always be cherished.

In the past few years she still displayed her bravery, optimism, enthusiasm, and determination. She never complained. One of her many friends described her in a beautiful tribute at her 85th birthday: “you are my dear friend, my inspiration, my ideal of the perfect gracious lady! It’s an honor to be counted among your host of friends.”

Surviving are her daughter, Nancy Charline Barger Cox (Ronald B.) of Signal Mountain; son, Dean D. Barger, Jr. of Memphis TN; sister, Nancy Jonakin of Chattanooga, TN;

Grandchildren, Katherine Cox Shaw (Winfred) of Chapel Hill, NC, Ronald David Cox

of Chattanooga, Nancy “Sherry” Cox Farrell (Andrew) of Signal Mountain, Dean Barger, III, of Memphis, TN, and Alexander Dennis Barger of Memphis, TN; great-grandchildren, Harrington Dean Shaw, Charles Winfred Shaw, David Pollard Shaw, Nancy Charline Cox Farrell, Katherine Grace Cox Farrell, and Jackson Dean Barger; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 PM on Thursday at the funeral home, and from 11:30 AM to 1 PM on Friday at the church.

Funeral Services will be at 1 PM on Friday, December 18, 2015, at South Seminole Baptist Church with Pastor Ronald B. Perry, Sr. officiating.

Burial will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to South Seminole Baptist Church, 1201 S Seminole Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37412.

Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory, and Florist. 404 South Moore Road.