A Celebration of Life service for Martha Rhoads-McDowell will be hosted by her family Monday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. at the Woodward United Methodist Church in Woodward, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. until the service begins. Burial will be at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa.
Martha Salmon Rhoads-McDowell, 89, of Woodward passed away at her home in Woodward, Iowa. She was the last living of 13 children born to George W. and Martha (Atwood) Salmon, entering the world on Jan. 24, 1933, at home in Perry, Iowa.
Martha Ann, as she was called by her family, was very close to her siblings and their families. The family had a humble childhood filled with so much love.
At the age of 11 she accepted the Lord as her Savior and was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Perry.
Martha was active in many high school activities while working at McDonald’s Drug Store and F. W. Woolworth’s. She graduated from Perry High School in 1951.
That same year she married her high school sweetheart, Bill C. Rhoads from Woodward, where they raised their four children, Peggy, Patti, Connie and Billy.
Martha was a very loving, caring and devoted wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, sister and aunt.
The death of her daughter Connie in 1974 and her husband of almost 25 years, Bill, in 1976, was a difficult time for the family. After their deaths, Martha and her three children formed an unbreakable bond.
In 1979 she met and married Lloyd McDowell Sr., a widower, while working at the Woodward State Hospital School. They enjoyed 23 1/2 years of marriage until his death in 2003.
Martha enjoyed family get togethers, traveling, playing cards, cooking and reading.
She especially loved the Salmon family reunions.
Preceding her death were her parents; daughter, Connie; son, Bill; husbands, William Rhoads and Lloyd McDowell; son-in-law, Dan Williams; 12 siblings, including Lena, Estellene, Mary, Opal, Doris, Alice, George, Jr., Katherine, Orville, William, Joann and Leone; and several nephews and nieces.
Survivors include her daughters, Peggy Williams and Patti (Bob) Abram; stepson, Mark (Becky) McDowell; grandchildren, Barry Williams, Aaron (Jackie) Abram, Alan Abram, Kim (Troy) Eichenberger, Chad Rhoads and Chelsey (Ryan) Wildman; great-grandchildren, Chris, Nick, K. C., Jenna, Hunter, A. J., Sydney, Brady, Alannah, Caden and Bella; loving nieces and nephews and their families; and daughter-in-law, Beth Rhoads.
Memorials will be given to the Connie Rhoads American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship Fund and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care. Online condolences may be left at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
