Martha Ray Rider Ellenberger

November 04, 2014 Last Updated: November 04, 2014 09:01 AM Death Notice

Martha Ray Rider Ellenberger, 91, formerly of Fellowship Manor, Grove City, passed away at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Grove City Medical Center, where she lived since April.

She was born on Nov. 30, 1922, in Nichola, Armstrong County, to the late James Ray and Mary Lamison Ray.

Martha married George T. Rider Jr. on Aug. 4, 1940, and he passed away on Oct. 23, 1985. She married Kenneth L. Ellenberger on March 9, 1988, and he passed away on Jan. 21, 2013.

Martha was a homemaker and formerly a clerk at the former Newscenter of South Broad Street, Grove City, for many years.

She was a longtime member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Grove City.

Martha was a member of the Mercer County Extension Homemakers Club.

In her younger years, Martha enjoyed wintering in Apache Junction, Ariz., with her husband and her beloved poodle, Peppy.

She is survived by her three sons, Bruce Rider and his wife, Connie, of Harrisville, and Tom Rider and his wife, Shirley, and Robert Rider and his wife, Becky, all of Grove City; her eight grandchildren, Wade Rider and his wife, Stacy, of Beaver Falls, Shawn Rider and his wife, Karen, of Harrisville, Eric Rider of Salisbury, Md., Chad Rider and his wife, Sondra, of Ft. Drum, N.Y., Robert Rider Jr. and his wife, Sarah, of Grove City, Keith Kiser and his wife, Tami, of Mauldin, S.C., Jodi McErlane and her husband, Charles, of Greenville and Melinda DiBello and her husband, Michael, of Grove City; her 29 great-grandchildren; and her two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Shirley Hardies of Serverna Park, Md.; her three brothers, Richard Ray and his wife, Marleen, of Indiana, Pa., Perry Ray and his wife, Violet, of Butler and Donald Ray and his wife, Nancy, of Poland, Ohio; her sister-in-law, Joyce Rider of Chicora; and her numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her three sisters, Sarah Ellenberger, Elsie Couch and Jean Maley, and her five brothers, James Herbert Jr., Wilbert, Bill, Adam and George H. Ray.

Ellenberger — The family of Martha Ray Rider Ellenberger, who passed away Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, will welcome friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at theCunningham Funeral Home, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City.Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Crestview Memorial Park, Grove City.Memorial contributions may be made to the East Main Presbyterian Church, Deacons Fund, 120 E. Main St., Grove City, PA 16127.