Obituary
Obituaries
Published: October 17, 2012
Martha (Marty) Binsley
Mrs. Martha Jean (Marty) Foulks Binsley passed away on September 23, 2012, after a recent cancer diagnosis. She had a long and fruitful life and was surrounded by her loving family at the end.
On April 23, 1927, Marty was welcomed into this world by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William S. Foulks, of East Liverpool, Ohio, and her two older brothers, Dave and Bill.
Martha graduated from Ohio State University with a double major in Fine Arts and Arts Education. While at OSU, Marty met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Binsley, who was a mechanical engineering student. The pair were married in 1951 and made the long journey to Southern California where they settled permanently.
A true renaissance woman, Marty was an individual of many passions. Her primary passion was visual art. In recent years, her two favorite art forms were pen and ink sketching and watercolors. Over her lifetime, Marty actively partook in many forms of art, including painting, quilting, knitting, costume making, drawing, and most of all, puppetry. Her lovable puppets appeared with her in a variety of performances ranging from classroom talks to performances at the Hollywood Bowl. Marty worked professionally as an educator, draftsman, quick-sketch artist, costumer, and puppeteer. Marty enjoyed sharing her passion for art by teaching students of all ages. She also loved to read, travel, cook, garden and debate the important issues of life and politics.
In addition to all of these interests, Marty was committed to her family. She and Bob were blessed with two sons, Andy and Mike. Both Binsley parents taught the boys well in everything from cooking and sewing to succeeding in school and raising wonderful families of their own. Marty and Bob were also actively involved with the Boy Scouts, and they helped both sons become Eagle Scouts. Many years later, they would help Mike’s sons become Eagle Scouts as well. Marty was exceptionally caring for all four of her grandchildren, whether she was nursing a sick child or attending her grandchildren’s special activities.
One of Marty and Bob’s passions related to family was genealogical research. They traveled all over the United States and Europe tracing their lineage. Marty was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century.
Around the time of Marty and Bob’s fiftieth anniversary, Bob became quite ill, requiring constant care. Even through the toughest times, Marty tirelessly cared for him. After he passed away, she continued to stay active in many ways, including traveling with her sons, teaching painting classes, volunteering at the local hospital, and supporting her grandchildren’s journeys into adulthood.
Marty is survived by her sons (Andrew and Michael) and their wives (Jill and Melanie), her four grandchildren (Christopher, Erika, Taylor, and Paige), her niece and nephew (Edith and Edward Foulks), and her brother (William S. Foulks, Jr.). Marty was a remarkable woman who touched our lives deeply. We will all miss her!
The family is planning a private memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her memory to the American Cancer Society.
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