Martha Alkire, 92, of Winona Lake, Ind., passed away at 11:54 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, at Kosciusko Community Hospital of Warsaw, Ind.

She was a resident of Kosciusko County, Ind., for the past 20 years. She attended Practical Bible Institute in up-state New York.

In 1945 she went to West Virginia to work for Union Mission, a religious ministry, working with children’s groups and Vacation Bible Schools. While there she worked in the office as a bookkeeper from 1955 until her retirement in 1993.

Martha was born Sept. 13, 1921, in Erie, Pa., to Joseph L. Nelson and Lula M. (Chapman) Nelson. On Sept. 23, 1955, she was married to Nimrod Alkire Jr., who preceded her in death in 1984.

She is survived by her son: Paul (Christine) Alkire, Maui, Hawaii; a daughter: Becky (Jim) Strider, Winona Lake; two grandchildren: James and Timothy Strider, Winona Lake; and her brother: Joe (Jean) Nelson, Sherman, N.Y.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

There will be no public visitation and a private graveside service will be held at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Morgantown, W.V., and officiated by Reverend Charles McDonald.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home of Warsaw, Ind.

Memorial donations may be made to West Virginia Rescue Ministries, 107 Jefferson St., Fairmont, W.V. 26554.