Martha Ann Bell-Ankeney
Martha Ann Bell-Ankeney
Martha Ann Bell-Ankeney
March 4, 1926 – February 7, 2018
New Sharon, Iowa | Age 91
Martha Bell-Ankeney, 91 of New Sharon passed away Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at the St. Francis Care Center in Grinnell. Martha Ann Enslow Bell-Ankeney, the daughter of Monte and Daisy (Williams) Enslow, was born on March 4, 1926 in Chariton, Iowa.
Martha graduated from Chariton High School in 1944.
On March 8, 1945, Martha was united in marriage to Andrew Bell in Chariton, Iowa. To this union two children were born, Karen and Steven.
Martha worked for National Bank in Chariton before working for Production Credit also in Chariton. In 1962, Andrew took a job with Mormon Feed in New Sharon relocating their family to New Sharon. Martha was the New Sharon City Clerk for a few years. She also worked six years at Phelps Hardware before working several years at the Taintor Savings Bank in New Sharon, retiring in 1988.
Following Andrew’s death in 1993, Martha married John Ankeney in 1996. He passed away in 2010.
Martha was a member of the Prairie Knolls Country Club where she was a member of a card club and enjoyed playing golf. She was also a member of the New Sharon United Methodist Church, the Red Hat Lady’s, the Order of the Eastern Star in Chariton and PEO Chapter X in Oskaloosa before transferring her membership to New Sharon.
Her memory will be honored by her children, Karen (& Jim Briggs) McGriff of Montezuma and Steven Bell of Valrico, FL; five grandchildren: Brett (& Kelly) McGriff of Grinnell, Ryan (& Lacy) McGriff of New Sharon, Andrew (& Jennifer) Bell of Indian Harbour Beach, FL, Matthew Bell of Melbourne, FL and Thomas Bell of Indialantic, FL; eight great grandchildren: Brody Bell, Taylor Bell, Zachary McGriff, Cole McGriff, Shelby McGriff, Chelsey McGriff, Anson Walker II and Lane Taylor; a step son, Greg (& LaVonne) Ankeney of Denton, TX; step daughter, Shari (& Bill) Ahlbrect of Chillicothe, MO; and many other relatives and friends.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Andrew Bell and John Ankeney; three brothers: Ed Enslow, Ben Enslow and Bud Enslow; and a sister, Mona Richards.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, February 11, 2018 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in New Sharon.
Burial will be held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Grinnell Regional Hospice.
