Martha L. Seckel

Martha L. Seckel, 88, of Bucyrus, was called home on Wednesday, September 15, 2021.



She was born April 28, 1933 in Elizabeth, WVa to the late William O. and Mary Elizabeth (Davis) Cooper. She moved to Bucyrus as a teenage girl and attended Bucyrus High School where she caught the eye of Ralph L. Seckel. He proudly mentioned to his buddy that he was going to marry her and in 1950, they did so and shared 62 years of marriage until his passing on June 1, 2012.



At a young age, Martha began working for her aunt at Herbert’s Bakery on the north end of town, where she hand-made and served many sweet treats to area residents. She eventually became a school cook for Holmes Liberty School and saw to it that the youth had a hearty lunch for 20 plus years before her retirement.



Martha lived her life to serve God and was very active at the Lincoln Ave. Church of Christ. She taught Sunday School, prepared meals and baked for various events, cleaned and most importantly loved hearing the gospel. She dearly loved her family and maintained a strong bond with her sister Helen. They attended church together, went on drives and shared many life happenings over a meal. Martha loved quality time spent watching her grandchildren, which strengthened their love. She will be remembered for her incredible cakes baked for any family gathering and everyone looked forward to her homemade pizza during Saturday movie nights.



Martha kept a clean and tidy home and she and Ralph loved bowling whenever they had a chance. They each bowled in about three leagues a week and Martha was proud of her 298. They enjoyed many travels over the years, which included a trip to Hawaii, several to Florida and one of their favorites was a three-week trip out west with close friends, Jim and Evelyn Scott. Martha enjoyed an occasional shopping day, and she had a standing weekly Saturday hair appointment for 50 plus years, which always made her feel better about herself.



She is survived by three daughters, Sandy (Phillip) Gerber, Terry Fawley and Sharon (Rex) Ard; six grandchildren, Andrea (Michael) Thomas along with their two children, Alec and Eric, Wes (Christine) Gerber and their two children, Wyatt and Etta, Stacey (Michael) Valo and their two children, Emi and Alex, Lindsay (Jono) Maupin and their daughter, Wynona, Amber (Scott) Langenderfer and their three children, Avery, Collin and Hayden, and Joshua (Kelly) Ard and their two children, Hudson and Gerrett; soon to be great-great granddaughter; two sisters, Lucille Fierbaugh and Helen Dennison, as well as two sisters-in-law, Becky Myers and Audrey Zehring Kirkman.



Martha and Ralph weathered an early challenge of losing their first child, Robert William Seckel who died of pneumonia at 10 months of age. She was also preceded in death by five brothers-in-law, Charles Fierbaugh, Bill Dennison, James “Red” Zehring, Dave Kirkman and Gordon Myers.



Her family will receive friends from 11-12:55 pm Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Wise Funeral Service, where her funeral will be held that day beginning at 1:00 pm with Jim Armbruster officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.



If desired, donations can be made payable to either Nationwide Children’s Hospital or to the Crawford County Council on Aging. These gifts will be accepted through the funeral home and expressions of sympathy can be shared on her Tribute Wall.