Martha Elizabeth Ruebush Lanham, former longtime Hermiston resident, died on Oct. 30, 2017 at her home in Walla Walla, Wash. at the age of 97.
She was born on Oct. 8, 1920 in Macomb, Ill. to George Yates Ruebush and Halley Whaley Ruebush.
She was raised on a farm north of Good Hope, Ill. and graduated from Good Hope High School in 1938. In 1942, she graduated from what is now Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. with a bachelor’s degree in business education. She taught in high schools in Augusta, Ill., Walsenburg, Colo., Hermiston and Barre, Vt.
When teaching in Hermiston, she met her future husband, William “Bill” Lanham, who owned the local Western Auto Store. They were married on Sept. 4, 1948 in Macomb, Ill. She did bookkeeping for their business while raising a family and later owned a gift shop, Martha’s Door.
Martha was an active community member and volunteered for numerous organizations over the years. She was a member of PEO for over 50 years. She was a founding and active member of Faith Presbyterian Church. She expressed her artistic nature in numerous ways, including painting, spinning and dyeing, felt making, quilting and interior decorating. She faithfully arranged the church flowers. She was an active person over the years and appreciated nature, whether hiking, rafting or sitting in her garden watching the birds. She looked forward to yoga classes through Blue Mountain Community College. Always curious and independent, she enjoyed traveling both nationally and internationally.
After Bill died in 1993, Martha lived alone and proudly maintained her home and yard until moving to Wheatland Village in Walla Walla, Wash. in April 2015. She lived in her own apartment until her death on Oct. 30, 2017 following a massive stroke.
She is survived by daughters, Rebecca Hendricks (Scott) of Milton-Freewater and Sara Lanham of Piedmont, Calif; son, Ray Lanham (Lynn) of Salem; nine grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; brother, Kenneth Ruebush (Martha) of Hendersonville, N.C.; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brothers, Max and Mervin Ruebush.
A funeral service was held on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 at the Faith Presbyterian Church, Hermiston.
Burial followed at the Hermiston Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to CV Chapter PEO Scholarship Fund, Faith Presbyterian Church; Walla Walla Community Hospice; or a charity of choice in care of Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, P.O. Box 289, Hermiston, OR 97838.
