Martha Langwell was born in Lexington, Illinois November 24, 1923 and passed December 6, 2024, 13 days after her 101st birthday.
She was the oldest (by 10 minutes) of the six children of Ralph Dean Stevenson and Clara (Johns) Stevenson. She was the twin sister of Margaret Stevenson Kinslow and treasured that relationship all of her life.
Martha moved to Chicago following her high school graduation. She married Clayton Langwell September 20, 1942 after a whirlwind three-month courtship. They were married for 63 years before his passing in 2005. They had three children: Kathryn, Clayton Allan, and Gary.
During their marriage, they moved from Chicago to Bronson, MI where Clayton owned a farm and chicken hatchery. Farm life was not her favorite thing and she went to work at the Darling Mannequin Factory as a secretary. When they moved back to Chicago in 1959, she transferred to Darling’s Chicago office. She retired to become the office manager of the steel window and door company she and her husband owned. Later, they moved to Genoa, WI where they continued to manage the window and door company until their retirement.
Martha moved back to Chicago to be close to her children and grandchildren after Clayton’s death. For the final six years of her life, she resided in an assisted living facility and enjoyed the fact that she was the oldest resident for the last two years.
Martha was a lifelong Democrat and was proud of working on the campaign of Senator Paul Douglas. She also was a devoted Chicago Cubs fan, going to many games and was incredibly happy to witness the Cubs win the 2016 World Series. She was proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her two great-greatgrandchildren. She often said, “I’m so lucky. Not a bad one among them!”
She is survived by her three children, Kathryn Langwell(Stuart) Kovar, Clayton Allan (Carol, deceased) Langwell, and Gary Lee (Diana) Langwell; six grandchildren, Mary Zullo, Dordaneh Rachel Baghelai, Kristin Langwell, Justin Langwell, Carla Langwell, and Andy Langwell; six great-grandchildren, Matt Zullo, Tony Zullo, Robyn Zullo, Kate Wooley, Gwen Wooley, Dorian Potvin, and Marissa Stege; and two great-great grandchildren, Mia Zullo and James Clayton Babcock. In addition, she is survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friend, Marvel Zullo.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton, her parents, her twin sister, Margaret Kinslow, brothers Carl, Dean, and Charles Stevenson, her daughter-in-law, Carol Langwell, her grandson, Nate Wooley, and granddaughter, Sharareh Baghelai. Also, her favorite dogs –Molly the Collie and Bonnie and Clyde the Pomeranians –and her evil cat, Misty, preceded her in death.
Donations in her memory could be made to the Shriners Hospital, St. Francis Indian School in Mission, SD, or to a charity of choice.
Funeral arrangements are through Dutcher Funeral Home, Bronson, MI.
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