Martha Welch
Clendaniel, 79
Martha Welch Clendaniel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, peacefully passed away at home on January 22, 2023 with her husband and two daughters by her side following a brave 4-year battle with multiple myeloma.
Martha was born on November 11, 1943 in Milford, Delaware. Martha attended Milford High School where she first met and began dating her husband, George. Martha, or "Marty" as she was known to many, was an active student athlete/leader in field hockey, basketball and cheerleading. Following graduation, she attended the University of Delaware where she pursued and completed a Bachelor's degree in Education.
After graduation, Martha married her high school sweetheart and taught school in Delaware while her husband was deployed in Vietnam. In 1967 the couple moved to Pittsburgh, where they put down new roots and started a family. Martha was very involved in her girls lives, serving as their Girl Scout leader, working in the PTA and volunteering for countless school programs and activities. She was also active with the League of Women Voters. In 1972, Martha helped her husband start their family construction management firm, Management Engineering Corporation. Martha held the position as Corporate Secretary for over 50 years and was a key member of the leadership team, responsible for payroll, taxes and other accounting matters for the first 30 years of business.
Martha enjoyed spending the seasons at different homes: spring, fall and Christmas was spent in Pittsburgh, PA; summers at Slaughter Beach, DE and winters in Naples, FL. She was blessed to have made wonderful friends in each city and cherished the time spent with all of them. Her childhood love of sports extended into her adult years with water skiing, snow skiing, playing paddleball and watching the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins win many championships. Martha enjoyed golf, playing year round at both Valley Brook CC in Pittsburgh and Naples Lakes CC in Naples, and was known for a picture perfect swing. In the summers, at her beloved beach house, she spent time tending to "Marty's Garden"; sitting on the "little deck" from early morning with a good cup of strong coffee watching the sunrise and migrating birds through to the evening happy hours with beloved friends & neighbors.
She enjoyed shopping with her girls and was always interested in teaching them about depression glassware and antique kitchenware such as egg cups and bakers cabinets. Martha was a tremendous cook and generous hostess, warmly welcoming friends and family to her Slaughter Beach home every Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day as well as hosting an annual reunion for the couples' college friends.
In Naples, she also enjoyed exploring the wonderful restaurants, playing cards, and participating in book clubs. She was a member of the Naples Botanical Gardens and spent many evenings watching the sunset on the beach with her husband and dear friends. Martha also treasured the time spent with her husband and daughters on the many family trips taken throughout her life.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Hilda Welch; step-mother, Virginia Welch; her brother, Stephen Welch; and her cousin, David Sockrider.
Martha is survived by her husband of 57 years, George Clendaniel; her daughters, Kristen Clendaniel Clark and Kelly Clendaniel; and her brother and sisters-in-law, Gary & Norma Clendaniel, Linda Welch, and Norma Welch. She is also survived by beloved nieces and nephews, Steve Welch (Kathryn), Scott Welch (Beth), Wayde Clendaniel, Meade Clendaniel (Meredith), Ryan Clendaniel (Shanda), Christie DiNatale (Vinnie) and Adam Davis; as well as close cousins, Linda Sockrider, Barbara Johnson (Jim), Emily Green (Michael), Kyle Johnson (Ashley), Dick and Jean Clendaniel, Steve and Gail Clendaniel and Sherrill Morris. She is survived by numerous grand- nieces and nephews with whom she loved spending time and watching grow into smart, strong, caring young people.
Visitation Services will be held at Beinhauer Family Funeral Home in McMurray, PA on Friday, January 27, 2023 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm followed by a Funeral Service at Beinhauer on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 11:00am.
Visitation and Funeral Services will also be held for Martha at Rogers Funeral Home in Milford, DE on Tuesday January 31, 2023 with Visitation from 10:30am to 1:00pm and Funeral Services at 1:00pm. She will be laid to rest in Lincoln, DE.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Martha in Naples, FL in March.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Martha's memory to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation https://themmrf.org/
For condolences, please visit www.rogersfhmilford.com