Martha A. Lesley

Martha Alice Lesley, 99, formerly of Romney, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at St. Anthony Healthcare in Lafayette.

She was born October 2, 1917, in Clinton County at Fickle Station, to Chalmer Albert and Elgie Jeannette Harshman Bolyard.  On September 25, 1937, she married Adrian VanDyke Lesley in Frankfort; he preceded her in death on October 18, 1999.

Martha grew up in Tippecanoe County near Dayton and Buck Creek, graduating from Buck Creek High School in 1937.  She later graduated from Purdue University.  Martha worked as a secretary for Northwest Transit Co. for 12 years, was a book department manager for Leob’s Dept. Store, and later managed the Day Time Frocks dress shop on Third Street in Lafayette.  She enjoyed rock hunting with her two great-grandsons, Adrian and Drew.

Surviving are her granddaughter, Kirsten Gretchen Lodarek, of Chicago; two great-grandsons, Adrian P. Ortiz and Drew Lodarek; and sister, Phyllis Geneva Phillips, of Alabama.

In addition to her husband, Martha is preceded in death by her son, Albert VanDyke “Van” Lesley; and her brothers and sisters, Jean Robert Hamilton, Mary Ann Younker, Avis Jackylin Walton, Herbert Harshman Bolyard, and J.C. Bolyard.

Visitation will be held on Genda Funeral Home Mulberry Chapel on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to the start of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m.  Burial will follow in Fair Haven Cemetery.  Memorials in Martha’s name may be directed to St. Anthony Health Care.  Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.