MARTHA J. POLLOCK

Longtime Palmer resident Martha J. Pollock died June 23, 2010, at Mat-Su Regional Hospital. She was 81.

Born to Ben W. Jacobs and A. Margaret Hoge of Waynesburg, Pa., on Nov. 18, 1928, she was the dear sister of Emily, MaryEllen and brother Ben. She graduated from Waynesburg College in 1950 and in the same year married her Greene County farmer, D.L Pollock.

When her husband’s sense of adventure pointed them to Alaska, Martha followed. She trusted D.L. to care of her and their young family. A person of routine, she even baked bread on the month-long journey to the Matanuska Valley. They arrived in 1958 and soon joined the United Protestant Church.

Within a year the family bought land on Lazy Mountain, where D.L and Martha established roots and remained until their respective deaths.

Martha was instrumental in the founding of the 4-H and Homemaker’s clubs on Lazy Mountain. An important theme in her life was building a community of neighbors. Since the early 1980s she had been in charge of the Lazy Mt. FAA weather station and was a certified aviation weather observer. Martha felt most comfortable working with children and taught Sunday school for more than 50 years. She would tell you she was simply a homemaker.

In death, she again follows her husband, who passed in February of this year.

She is survived by children Janet Aslin, John Pollock, Eva Pollock, Dan Pollock and Betty Pierce, all of Palmer. She was preceded in death by their son, Don C. Pollock.

She is also survived by grandchildren Ben Brown, Tara Pollock, Gareth Pollock, Maryanna Brown, Cody Pierce, Laurel Pollock, Robin Pollock and Peter Brown. Great-grandson Corbin Sullivan of Palmer was a special joy to Martha and D.L. Her siblings survive and all reside in Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Pollock’s memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the United Protestant Church in Palmer. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Presbytery of Yukon at 616 W. 10th Ave, Anchorage AK 99501, or to the charity of one’s choice.