Martha Aldrich

Formerly Battle Creek Martha Shook Aldrich was born in Brewer, Maine on December 29, 1921 to Alice and Joseph Rideout. She completed high school in Brewer and two years of study at Beal College of Business, before moving to Washington DC to work with the War Department in the Pentagon during World War II. It was there that she met her future husband, Richard De Shook. After living in Washington, D.C. and Cleveland, Ohio, Martha and Richard settled into life in Battle Creek, MI where they jointly operated a small business for a short time before Richard took a career job with the Federal Center and Martha proceeded to raise their three children: Richard (Celeste Wojcik) Shook, Plymouth, MI; Lynn (Robert) Horton, Kalamazoo; and Patricia (Richard) McCracken, Kalamazoo. Martha's husband, Richard, passed away in 1977. She later married Wesley Aldrich who also preceded her in death. From this marriage, Martha became very close to her four step-children and their families: Lyle Aldrich (deceased), Eileen (Steve) Nelson, Indianapolis, IN, Dale (Sue) Aldrich, Albion, MI, and Winifred (Dave) Makaluso, Athens, MI Martha was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, sisters Eleanor Butler and Ruth Schaefer, a brother, Joseph Rideout, Jr., and step-son, Lyle Aldrich. Surviving are her children and grandchildren: Will Wojcik Shook, of Portugal, Jem (Chris) Marquette, and Leah (Ryan) Bousamra, of Dearborn, ML, Wendy Horton (Bryon) Bierema, Christine Horton (David) Mitchell, Tracy (Perry) Hausman and Tim McCracken, all of Kalamazoo; great-grandchildren: Violet Humphreys (Elliot Gonzalez), Zoe Bierema, Carter and Mackenzie Hausman, all of Kalamazoo, Andrew and Kaitlyn Marquette, and Elise Bousamra, of Dearborn, MI; and great-great granddaughter, Isa Gonzalez, Kalamazoo. Martha will be remembered as a person who loved to garden, loved to play bridge, loved her many return visits to Maine, and above all, she loved her family. She was a longtime active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Battle Creek. A service in Martha's honor will be held at 11 a.m. on September 14 at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 10 West Bidwell Street, Battle Creek, MI 49015. Please visit Martha's webpage at www.avinkcremation.com where you can sign the guestbook, send a flower and share a memory. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of SW Michigan or a charity of your choice. The family is being assisted by the Avink Funeral Home and Cremation Society, 129 S. Grand Ave, Schoolcraft, MI 49087 (269-679-5622)