Martha Strickland

SEBAGO — Martha Strickland, 79, of Sebago and Winter Haven, Fla., died suddenly at her Winter Haven home on Monday, Dec. 2, 2013.

Born on Jan. 15, 1934, in Middletown, Conn., Martha grew up in Middlefield, Conn.

She was predeceased by her parents, Helen Watrous Strickland and Edwin Chauncey Strickland; her stepbrothers, Culver and Edwin; and her longtime housemate, Carie Hammond.

Martha is survived by her dear friend, walking partner, and housemate of over 50 years, Muriel (Sally) Hammond; and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Martha was a graduate of Central Connecticut State University and a teacher in the Middletown public schools for 35 years at Bielefield and Moody Elementary Schools, retiring in 1991. She was much beloved and respected by her students and colleagues for her quiet counsel, great patience and her most endearing sense of humor.

Over the years, Martha contributed greatly to the work of the Long Beach Community Association at Sebago Lake in ways too numerous to count. She was also an avid walker, logging hundreds of miles in all 50 states in her retirement. She was most proud of climbing Mt. Katahdin in Maine and completing the Mount Desert Island Marathon in 2005, at the age of 71.

Martha was very active in her college sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma, and supported their many events and charitable work until the time of her death. Her ongoing commitment to the education of young children also prompted additional fund raising and other contributions of school supplies to children in her Winter Haven community for the last several years.

Martha served on many committees at Carefree Park, became a great and valued leader and was always available to lend a hand. Her latest passion was kidsPACK, a program providing lunches for needy kids for the weekend. Through the Carefree Chapel and Martha’s hard work, Carefree Park has adopted an elementary school in Winter Haven.

She was the “favorite aunt” — dearly loved, and she will be greatly missed.

A Connecticut memorial service in Martha’s honor is planned for the spring of 2014. Donations may be made in her memory to: Carefree Chapel, 9705 Lake Bess Road, Winter Haven, FL 33884 or to another of her passions, the Camp O-AT-KA Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 239, Sebago ME 04029.