Martha C. (“Granny”) Hochstetler, 94, died Friday, December 21, 2007, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital of Evansville after a brief illness. 

She was born in Buckskin, IN February 22, 1913 the sixth child of Gerhardt and Dora Buck.

During her final years she resided at River Pointe in Evansville. Martha and her late husband, Verlin, raised their family near Gary and then retired to Buckskin for the next 45 years. They were also winter residents of Jupiter, FL for over 40 years. 

Martha was introduced to Verlin Hochstetler by his sister Hazel. A widower with four young children, he was blessed to marry Martha May 7, 1941 in a service performed by her brother, Rev. Raymond Buck. Martha’s legacy as mother, stepmother and grandmother began that day, setting an example of selfless devotion, perseverance and love that would transcend five generations. Verlin predeceased Martha in 1989. 

The grateful family to which Martha and Verlin dedicated their lives includes five children: Claude (who died in 2001) of Griffith, IN, the father of 4 children and 4 grandchildren; Eugene (Hilda) of Griffith, the parents of 4 children and 2 grandchildren; Eileen Williams (who died in 2004) of Jupiter, FL, the mother of 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; Janet (Don) Hershberger of Noblesville, IN, the parents of 2 children, grandparents of 6 and great-grandparents of 4; and David (Jean) of Ormond Beach, FL, the parents of 2 children. Numerous nieces and nephews in southern Indiana also mourn her passing, including the Buck family, who steadfastly assisted her during her last years. 

Martha loved to fish, sew, quilt, tend her garden and bake. Over the years she baked more than 100 wedding cakes and cooked church dinners for hundreds at Griffith Lutheran Church. She loved music and played the Concertina (“Squeezebox”) and harmonica until her dying day. She sent birthday and Christmas cards to a multitude of Hochstetler and Buck descendents every year without fail. She will be greatly missed. 

Funeral services will be 12 p.m. Saturday, January 5 at St. John’s Church of Buckskin, where she was baptized and confirmed. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation begins at 10 a.m.