Surnames: MARTIN, HARRIS, WILLIAMS, GREEN, RUDA

----Sources: Clark County Press, Neillsville, March 5, 2003

Martin, Lilian (20 MAR 1918 - 2 Mar 2003)

Lilian Martin, age 84, of Humbird, died on March 2, 2003, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire. She was born on March 20, 1918, in Shotton Colliery, Northern England, to Arthur and Margaret (Harris) Williams. The eleventh of fourteen children, Lilian outlived her four brothers and nine sisters. She attended school until she was fourteen. She then worked until WWII.

In 1942 Lilian enlisted in the British Army. She became a plane spotter in an anti-aircraft battery stationed in England and Ireland. While on leave in London, she met Lyle Martin, an American Army Air Corps soldier. They were married on April 3, 1944, in Shotton Colliery, England. After the war, they lived in Wisconsin and moved to Washington State for a few years, later returning to rural Humbird in 1950.

She was a member of the Happy Hour Homemakers and the Humbird Methodist Church.

Surviving is her husband, Lyle; two daughters, Margaret (Larry) Green and Lilian Marie (Dennis) Ruda, all of Merrillan; one son, Lyle Robert (Lisa) Martin of Humbird; ten grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews in England. Preceding her in death is one grandson, Christopher.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home in Hixton, with Pastor Carrie Hamm officiating. Burial will take place in Mentor Cemetery, rural Humbird. Friends May call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service.