Martha was born April 20, 1924 in Bellevue to William and Olive (Good) Transue. On June 16, 1951 she married Robert "Bob" A. Stoneham in Bellevue. Robert preceded her in death July 11, 2012.
Survivors include a son, John "Jack" (Kim) W. Stoneham of Crestline; three grandchildren, Sara (Brian) Weller of Sandusky, Benjamin Stoneham of Columbus, Kelsey Stoneham of Toledo, two great-grandsons, Max and Charlie Weller; and a niece, Jane (Ted) Hieronymus of Kirkland, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a son, Robert K. Stoneham, and her sister, Joan Hoernemann.
Martha was a 1942 graduate of Bellevue High School, she continued her education at Bowling Green State University receiving her BA in Speech Therapy in 1946 and her Masters from Western Reserve University in 1947. She then worked in Lakewood, Ohio with the public school system for one year. In 1948 she began teaching at Ohio Wesleyan University. After marrying Bob they returned to Bellevue to open a private practice that included working with the Bellevue school system. 1960 brought Bob and Martha to Tiffin, where Martha began working full time at the Betty Jane Center. Martha was the Founder and Director of the Betty Jane Oral School for the Deaf. She also held an assistant professorship in Speech Therapy at Heidelberg College from 1966-1975. Martha retired in 1989 after 32 years at the Betty Jane Center. Martha was regarded throughout Ohio as a pioneer in her field and a top professional. She was a member of the American Speech/Language & Hearing Association, the Ohio Speech & Hearing Association, and a charter member of the Ohio Council of Speech & Hearing Administrators. In 1977 she was recognized as a Fellow of the Ohio Speech & Hearing Association. She was a member of Old Trinity Episcopal Church, where she was a thirty year member of the choir as well as teaching Sunday school and serving on the Vestry. She was a member of the Penthouse Club, Y-Wives, Easter Seals Board, Friends of the Library Board, AAUW and helped found the Sandusky Valley Speech & Hearing Association.
A Memorial Service will take place at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at Old Trinity Episcopal Church, with Rev. John Reinheimer officiating. Entombment will be in the church columbarium.
Memorial contributions may be made to Old Trinity Episcopal Church, Tiffin YMCA or to a charity of the donor's choice in care of the Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe Street, Tiffin, Ohio 44883, 419-447-3113.