Martha Barlow

December 4, 1923 – August 22, 2015

Martha “Betty” Barlow 91, passed away August 22, 2015 at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, WA.

Betty was born December 4, 1923 in Lynch Nebraska to Otis and Ethel Chapman. She was the 5th of 10 children.

The Chapman’s traveled west, eventually ending up in Cottage Grove, Oregon where Betty graduated from Cottage Grove High School.

In 1941 she enlisted in the Army Nurse Corp, receiving her nurses training (RN) at Dewitt Hospital upon which she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. After completion of her training she was transferred to Letterman Army Hospital where she met Army Air Corps Captain Bill Barlow on a blind date. One month after meeting they were married.

Bill and Betty eventually moved to Bainbridge Island in the early 1950s to raise their family.

Betty had always worked in either hospitals or nursing homes. She worked as the head nurse at the Messenger House and later was asked to be the Director of Nursing at the brand new Winslow Convalescent Center. She continued to work there off and on even after “retiring” until she retired for the final time when she was in her 70’s.

She was very involved with the Bainbridge Rotary Anns, helping tirelessly in the early days of the Rotary Auction to help organize the rummage sale.

Betty and Bill traveled quite a bit after they retired going to many of Bill’s P-47 pilot reunions. Bill passed away in 2013

She is survived by her 3 children, Don (Setia) Barlow, Jeri (Dirk)Reinauer, Mary (Brian)Doolin, 10 grandchildren and 15 great- grandchildren.