Martha Alice Maxwell Vandevort, 91, died suddenly on Saturday, November 12th, at her home in Franklin, PA.
Martha was born to Joseph S. and Mary Frances Maxwell, missionaries in Nasir, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (currently South Sudan) on October 11, 1925. When she was three years old, the family moved across the border and up the mountains to Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia, where her father, a doctor, worked in the newly established hospital. Martha played with the local children learning the local language, Afaan Oromo, well enough to translate for her mother. After several years, they returned to the US where her parents continued to serve as mission workers in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky before moving to Fairmont, WV where Martha finished elementary school and high school. She was an accomplished pianist by her 11th grade year, accompanying church choirs and winning awards for her presentations.
Martha attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL for three years, but completed her degree at Sterling College, Sterling, KS. Following these studies she attended Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, IL and received her diploma as a Registered Nurse. Upon receiving nursing credentials, Martha sought employment as a missionary under the United Presbyterian Church and was sent to Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia, where she had lived as a child. Several years later, a young preacher from Pittsburgh, PA, Malcolm Vandevort, went to Ethiopia under the same mission board and in due time the two married in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Vandevorts continued working as missionaries in Ethiopia until 1977 and then returned to the US. The Vandevorts lived in Kittanning, PA and Weirton, WV where Martha’s husband pastored churches. They retired to Hadley, PA and enjoyed a large plot of land where Malcolm grew vegetables and Martha tended her flower gardens. Martha was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville until they moved to Franklin, PA to live with their daughter, Peggy Hamm, and her family. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, Franklin, PA.
Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Malcolm Vandevort; and a son, Timothy Vandevort; her parents; a sister, Jean Marshall; brother, Howard Maxwell. She is survived by four children: Peggy Hamm (Glenn) of Franklin, PA; Rachel Weller (Michael), Ethiopia; David Vandevort (Lynn) of Painesville, OH; Ellen Vandevort Wolf (Karl) of Long Island City, NY. Also surviving is one sister, Ellen Harmeling, 18 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, daughter-in-law-, Lisa Britton, sister-in-law, Elaine Maxwell.
A memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Franklin, PA on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 11:00 A.M.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to: Ethiopian Outreach Ministry, P.O. Box 2241, York, PA 17405 and/or Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) UK Castle House, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkstone, Kent, CT202TQ, England www.mafuk.org.
To send online condolences, flowers, cards, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.
