Wilma B. Martin

Wilma Bender Ford Martin, 103, a resident of Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, FL for the past 34 years, formerly of Geneva, OH, passed away Saturday, January 26, 2019 in Fort Myers. She was born March 3, 1915 in Youngstown, OH to William and Emma Bender, now deceased. She was the youngest of three children.

Wilma was of the Christian faith. She was married to her first husband, Charles J. Ford, Jr. on May 7, 1938 in Geneva, OH where they had two sons, William James and Charles James. Wilma was widowed in 1955 and worked hard to raise her two teenage boys. She worked for many years as a handbag/jewelry buyer for Carlisle-Allen Department Stores in Geneva and Ashtabula, Ohio. Thanks to this job, she was able to travel the world in search of items for the stores. Wilma re-married in 1983 to Mr. William Martin who was an avid bird watcher and member of The Audubon Society. They lived on Sanibel Island in Florida until Mr. Martin’s death in 1998. At this time, Wilma moved to Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers where she spent the next 20 years.

She is survived by her loving son, Charles James Ford, III; three loving grandchildren, Lori McCain, Mark Ford, and Charles James Ford, IV; three great grandchildren; as well as three great great grandchildren.

Wilma was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles J. Ford; her second husband, William Martin; as well as her eldest son, William James Ford.

No formal services are planned at this time.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fort Myers, is entrusted with final care.