Martha Olive Bayles Kochenderfer , age 104 years, a resident of Parsons, WV departed this life Tuesday afternoon, May 6, 2014 at Cortland Acres at Thomas, WV.
She was born Thursday, October 21, 1909 at Morgantown, WV, a daughter of the late Ellery Paul and Agnes Christina Toomy Bayles. On June 18, 1931 at Morgantown, WV she was married to Miles Craig Kochenderfer, Sr., who preceded her in death November 29, 1982. Surviving are two sons, James Nallen Kochenderfer and wife Hilda of Blackman Flats, Miles Craig Kochenderfer, Jr. of Rupert, WV; two daughters, Margaret Anne Terranto of Downingtown, PA and Christina Marie Minard of Raleigh, NC; ten grandchildren, John, Jennifer, James, Mark, Jeff, Martha Lynn, Rebecca, Anne, John “Jack”, and Michael; and thirteen great grandchildren.
She is the last surviving member of her immediate family having been preceded in death by two brothers, William and Robert Bayles and three sisters, Mary Bayles, Frances Singleton and Florence Bayles; one grandson, Patrick Craig Flanagan; one son-in-law, Leonard Terranto; and one daughter-in-law, Kathy Kochenderfer.
She was a graduate of St. Frances Catholic School and a graduate of West Virginia University in June of 1930 with a degree in Education. She began her teaching career at Grantsville, WV, where she also coached girls basketball and later taught at Parsons High School. She also worked for the West Virginia Dept. of Child Welfare until her retirement in 1972. She was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church of Parsons. Martha liked the outdoors, especially swimming in the Dry Fork River while she lived at Hendricks, WV.
The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. A rosary was recited on Friday at 7 p.m. by the Rev. Father Timothy Grassi. On Saturday, May 10, 2014, Mrs. Kochenderfer was moved to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at Parsons, where the Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11:30 a.m.. The Rev. Father Timothy J. Grassi will be the presider and interment will follow at the Bethel Cemetery at Holly Meadows. The family suggest that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to: Catholic Youth Mission, PO Box 300, Thomas, WV 26292 or Five Rivers Library, 301 Walnut Street, Parsons, WV 26287. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Martha Olive Bayles Kochenderfer. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com