June 12, 1917 -- Jan. 28, 2005

Mrs. Gene E. Martin, 87, of Lilac Road, South Bend, passed away at 8 p.m. Friday, January 28, in her residence.

She was born on June 12, 1917, in Walton, Indiana, to the late Myrtle M. (Roach) and William F. Blech. In 1940, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as Gene E. Blech, she married Marvin "Jack" Bennett, who preceded her in death on January 26, 1950. Then on January 27, 1960, in South Bend, as Gene E. Bennett, she married Robert Oliver Martin, who preceded her in death on March 6, 1985. Mrs. Martin was also preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Blech and Barbara Zeiler.

Mrs. Martin is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth (Larry Yaw) Martin and Kimberly Blech, both of South Bend; two stepdaughters, Rella Winchester of New Carlisle, Ohio, and Evelyn Martin of Chicago, Illinois; a grandson, Justin Robert Yaw of South Bend; stepsister, Roberta (Jerry) Dare of Mishawaka, Indiana; and many step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Martin was a cook for the Robertson's Department Store Tea Room. She was a 1935 graduate of South Bend Central High School. She held the longest membership at St. Paul's Memorial United Methodist Church, South Bend, and was a member of the Teamsters Union.

Services for Mrs. Martin will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 2, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street, South Bend, where friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today. Rev. Kathy Miller of St. Paul's Memorial United Methodist Church and Rev. Mary Hubbard will conduct the services. Burial will follow the services at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Indiana.