Vivian Pauline (Daniels) Martin, known to her close friends as “Polly”, of Burlington, died 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 20, 2018 at her home. She was 94 years young.
Born May 14, 1923 in Dolphin, Virginia she was the daughter of Giles Anthony and Mary Eveline (Gibson) Daniels. Miss Daniels was a graduate of Lawrenceville High School, in Lawrenceville, Virginia. Her desire to be a nurse sent her to Mary Washington College at the University of Virginia where she attended one year of Pre-Med from 1940-1941. She graduated in September of 1944 from Union Memorial Hospital’s School of Nursing.
An affiliate of Johns Hopkins Hospital for Ophthalmology and Psychiatry in Baltimore, MD, Miss Daniels worked in the Well Baby nursing in the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Department at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore during the war years. On February 19, 1944, Miss Daniels married Robert H. Martin, a soldier she had met during the war.
After the war, the Martins moved to Burlington, IA to live with Rosemary, their first of four children. Mrs. Martin worked for years as a Special Duty Nurse on the Pediatrics Surgical and Medical floor of Mercy Hospital. In addition, she worked on the Psych floors after her retirement from the offices of Dr’s Friday and Foss. Mrs. Martin worked for eight years in the office of Dr. Walter Friday and 12 years in the office of Dr. John Foss, both specialists in the area of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
Mrs. Martin was a member of Divine Mercy Parish – SS Mary & Patrick Catholic Church. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, swimming, and monthly luncheons with her fellow nurses and widows.
Survivors include her daughter, Rebecca P. Bisel of Thornton, CO; two sons, Robert A. “Butch” Martin of Burlington and Randall A. Martin of Los Angeles, CA; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, oldest and third child, Rosemary and Raymond and one sister. The Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 24th at Divine Mercy Parish – SS Mary & Patrick Catholic Church. The Very Rev. Father Marty Goetz will be the celebrant. The Des Moines County Resurrection Choir will provide music.
According to Mrs. Martin’s wishes her body has been donated to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program where she will join her husband’s body which was also donated after his death in 2006.
A memorial has been established for Great River Hospice.