Martha was born on November 3, 1933 in OU Hospital in OkC, the youngest child of Charles Miller and Rose Marie Miller (Loeffelholz) and she was the first of the family to be born at a hospital. Martha was a humble servant who loved Jesus Christ, devoted her life to Him and in the service to others. Her greatest joy was spending time with her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and even great-great-grandkids!
Martha graduated Norman High in 1951, and later married her first spouse, William T Barksdale, a sailor stationed at Norman Naval base. From then she traveled the country living in Virginia, where she gave birth to her oldest son, then Myrtle Beach where she birthed her daughter and two more sons, then Amarillo where she had another son, then Norman where she gave birth to the last of her Barksdale kids. She attended Wright business school where she earned her associates degree and immediately thereafter started work as a customer service representative at OEC. She worked hard to provide for her family and achieve a career, all the while keeping her faith in God as the forefront of her life.
She met the love of her life, Arley D Pennington in 1970, a retired CW3 USArmy. From that union she had another son. She retired from OEC in 1996 and from that point became busier as a volunteer than when she was a paid employee.
Martha enjoyed service to others and God above all. She was so active in her Church, Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Norman Ok, that she was twice voted the Saint Joseph Worker Award. She was voted the 2002 Woman of the Year Award. She was a Perpetual Adoration adorer, spending hours every week in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. She served every office in the Golden Agers. The was active and served on the Women’s Club, St Veronica’s Guild, Saint Vincent DePaul, was the director of the Funeral Dinner Committee, was a skilled Washer Thrower (winning many a contest), and worked the annual Thanksgiving Dinner every year, carrying on the legacy from her mother.
She was active in the American Business Women’s Association, Cleveland County Home and Community Education, and Pro life activities.
She enjoyed family and God most of all, but also loved line dancing, canning, gardening, craft projects with her OHCE, and volunteering. She has the true heart of a humble servant.
She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, daughter in law Pam, grandson Sean, and her beloved Arley Dean Pennington who went to the Lord in December 1993. She is survived by her Daughter, Angela M Reid and husband Jeff of Moore; her son C. Charles Barksdale and his wife Deanna of ; son Richard Wayne Barksdale (Rick) of Norman; William T Barksdale of Norman; Gary L Barksdale and spouse Kim of Norman; Kevin L Barksdale and wife Michelle of Moore, son Mark Pennington and wife Christine of Tahlequah and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and even 3 great-great grandchildren.
All who know Martha know her as the embodiment of love and although she will be missed, we are all comforted in the knowledge that she is rejoicing in Eternal Bliss with her beloved Arley and Christ.
She will be remembered at A Rosary in the Church at St Joseph Catholic Church, 211 North Porter Avenue, Norman Oklahoma at 6:30 pm Monday November 22. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at Saint Josephs on Tuesday November 22 at 10 am.
Her public viewing will be at Primrose Funeral Home on Monday November 22 from 9a m to 4 pm.
Please direct any donations to Saint Joseph Catholic Church 211 North Porter, Norman Oklahoma.
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