Obit of France, Martha L - Garvin County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 17 Aug 2008 Return to Garvin County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/garvin/garvin.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Greenwood Memorial Park--Fort Worth TX France, Martha L. Martha Lili France, 92, passed away Monday, Feb. 27, 2006. Funeral: 1 p.m. Friday at Ridglea Baptist Church. Burial: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Greenwood Funeral Home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Building Fund of Ridglea Baptist Church, 6037 Calmont Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76116. Mrs. France was born Sept. 14, 1913, in Marietta, Okla., one of seven children born to James D. and Parthena Freeman. The family lived in Pauls Valley and Davis, Okla., before moving to Arlington in 1925. Mrs. France graduated from Arlington High School in 1930 and attended North Texas Agricultural College, now the University of Texas at Arlington. She then worked in Fort Worth, where she married Arthur Lee "Jack" France Jr. of Gillette, Ark., in 1936. Before World War II, they lived in Fort Worth and in New Orleans. While Jack France served in the transportation corps of the U.S. Army in the Pacific in World War II, Martha France worked as a secretary at the Port of Embarkation in Seattle, Wash. Later, they returned to Fort Worth, where Mr. France owned a small loan business. Mr. France died in 1985. Until her retirement, she worked for the Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife. An avid poet, Mrs. France was a 50-year member of the Fort Worth Poetry Society and served as an officer in the organization for many years. She was also a member of the Poetry Society of Texas and the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Throughout the years, she wrote many award-winning poems. She always enjoyed working with young people and taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church in Arlington and Connell Baptist Church in Fort Worth. At the time of her death, she was a member of Ridglea Baptist Church in Fort Worth. The following is an excerpt from the poem, "The Ever Lack." As long as sun and lesser suns shall last, So long will urge endure, So long will sense of sound and colors glow. And music master mood, and mood, the muser know, Surging first from hidden source As the stone split lets the water flow. Survivors: Son, Arthur Lee France III and daughter-in-law, Sofia France; grandson, Dylan Arthur France; sister and brother-in-law, Brant and Virginia Taylor; sister-in-law, Rene Freeman; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Published in the Star-Telegram on 3/1/2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Garvin County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/garvin/garvin.html