Dama Martin Burkhart

Dama Martin Burkhart, 92, died peacefully on September 25, 2018 in her son and daughter-in-law's home in Brownsburg, Indiana, where she had resided her last five years.

Dama was born in Woodsfield, Ohio on March 16, 1926.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbert Earl and Carrie Doan Martin, and her four siblings, Lucian Weber, Frank (Dick) Martin, Ruth Lafferre and Warren Martin.  She is survived by her two children, Paige (Kevin) Amsler and Malvin Scott (Jean) Cofield.  She has six grandchildren, Nathan (Zarifa), Trevor, and Morgan (Maria) Funk, and Malvin Paul, Andrea and Brad Cofield.  She also has three great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Noa and Callista Funk.

Dama graduated from Woodsfield High School in 1944.  She received a diploma from Northwestern College, St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Taylor University, Upland, Indiana in 1950.  She earned a Master of Science degree from Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana in 1965 for work completed at Christian Theological Seminary.  She followed with a doctorate from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana in 1968.  She loved her Boilermakers!

Dama dedicated her life to God, family, education and was an advocate for women's education in particular.  She was a staff member of the Howard County Council of Churches, Christian Education, Kokomo Public Schools.  She was a Director of Christian Education, Central Presbyterian Church in Lafayette, Indiana.  She later became an Associate Professor in the Department of Child Development and Family Life followed by Associate Dean in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences at Purdue University until retirement in 1980.

After retiring, Dama moved back to her hometown of Woodsfield and married George Burkhart, also of Woodsfield.  She helped care for her aging Mother, was a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church and was active in Woodsfield Garden Club.  She also served on the board of Ohio University Eastern and established a scholarship fund at that institution to help women from Monroe County seeking opportunities in higher education.

She was well loved, cared for and will be greatly missed.  The family requests that donations to her OUE scholarship fund would be greatly appreciated. (See information below)  

Friends and family will be received from 12 p.m. until time of memorial service at 1 p.m.  Saturday July 27, 2019 at the Woodsfield Presbyterian Church 114 E. Church St., Woodsfield, Ohio with Rev. Susan Lehosky officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Oaklawn Cemetery in Woodsfield.  Arrangements by Bauer-Turner Funeral Home Woodsfield, Ohio.

Checks can be made out to “The Ohio University Foundation”
P.O. Box 869
Athens, Ohio 45701
ATT: Burkhart Scholarship
Any questions can be answered by calling the University direct @740-593-0061. You can also donate online: www.ohio.edu/give

When asked for the specific scholarship you wish to donate to, you will select the box “The Fund I want isn’t listed above” & then write in “Burkhart Scholarship” in the box provided. 

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