Martha Ann Darling, 93, of Chesapeake, Va., peacefully died on April 11, 2024.
Martha was born in 1931 in Philadelphia, Penn., to Ross and Kathryn Wilson. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a nurse, and Martha spent her first ten years living in Philadelphia until her family moved to Orlando, Florida.
After attending Emory College for a year, Martha enrolled in the Jackson Memorial Hospital Nursing Program in Miami.
She met her future life partner, Charles Darling, known as Chas, at a Sunday School function. A young Air Force officer, he was stationed at a base in Orlando. They married in 1955, and their life in the military took them to exciting duty stations in the United States and abroad, including North Africa and Germany. Martha was a very involved stay-at-home mother, and she even volunteered as a nurse for her children’s summer camps.
Martha and Chas moved to Madeira Beach, Fla. after Chas retired from the Air Force. They lived there until they fully retired, and their next move was to Micanopy, Fla. Both enjoyed their retirement years, with Martha becoming active with Aglow Ministries, Micanopy Christian Fellowship, and the Gainesville Orchid Society. Martha also enjoyed quilting and computer embroidery and was part of the Micanopy Craft and Quilt group.
Martha and Chas were married for 63 years until his passing in 2018. Martha then relocated to the Chesapeake, Va, area where she enjoyed being around extended family for the next six years.
Martha is survived by her four children, Patti (and Dale) Fanning of Chesapeake, Va., Kathy Darling of Gainesville, Fla., Mike Darling (and Marleen Lomas) of Bend, Ore., and Scott Darling of Copperas Cove, Texas; six grandchildren, Rebecca Duff, Greg Fanning, Caroline Tamez, Robert Darling, Wesley Darling, and Travis Darling; four great-grandchildren; and her sister, Julie (and Jim) Clark, of Arlington, Texas, and their children Jay (and Becky) and Jeff Clark.
Martha will be remembered for her laughter, her smile, her kindness, her generosity, and her passion for God. She was a lifelong reader, a mother, a mom, a nurse, and a friend to many.
She was much loved by family and friends and will be greatly missed.
The family is so very grateful for the wonderful and consistent care Karen Stevens gave to our mom over the years. We are also grateful for the compassion and dignity given to Martha over the last few months by the many wonderful people and staff from Trinity Hospice, Home Instead, and Commonwealth Senior Living at Cedar Manor.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a future date.