Martha H Buckalew

Martha Harter Buckalew passed away peacefully on May 15, 2024, with her family by her side. Martha was born October 14, 1941, in Raleigh, North Carolina, the daughter of William Bryan and Helen Wheat Coffman Nesbit. Martha graduated from Eau Claire High School in Columbia, South Carolina, and cum laude from the University of South Carolina. At USC, she married Edward A. Harter III and remained a faculty member for a year after graduation before moving to New Orleans, where her husband attended law school. A member of the honorary academic society, Phi Beta Kappa and the Honors fraternity Delta Omicron, her area of study was music and piano. She provided the musical accompaniment in several amateur plays in both Columbia and New Orleans. Additionally, she taught piano out of her home. In Columbus, she was founder, director, and pianist of the Chamber Theater Consort, cataloguer in the audio-visual department at the Grandview Public Library, publicity coordinator of Prestige Concerts, founder and director of Clavier Concerts, lecturer and recitalist at Capital Conservatory of Music. She also held numerous district and state offices in the Ohio Music Teachers Association while she was raising her son Ted. Martha was South Carolina School of Music Alumni of the Year 1992, Phi Beta Kappa Alumna of the Year 1996, Central East District Nationally Certified Teacher of the Year 1999, and was listed as a notable music educator and musician by Marquis Who's Who. Martha was not one to talk about her accomplishments, but she was very proud of two musical programs that she created about Nannerl Mozart, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Clara Schumann. She was actively involved in and cared about her community. Martha was the co-founder of Friends of the Ravine, a nonprofit group that raised funds to preserve and protect ravines in the Columbus area. Martha married Louis C. Buckalew (her late husband) in 1984. Louis was a minister in the United Methodist Church where she played piano. Martha and Louis enjoyed watching "Murder She Wrote," going for walks in Glen Echo Ravine, reading together, watching birds, and getting together with their family. Martha loved her cats, crossword puzzles, gardening, visiting gardens around the world, sewing, crocheting, spending time with friends and family, especially spending time with her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, and participating in activities with the children in the neighborhood (activities such as reading together or teaching them how to sew). Martha was an excellent cook, enjoyed cooking for guests and family; and she enjoyed traveling, especially to South Carolina to spend time with her kin. Martha loved her house and her yard; and though she was a devout member of the United Methodist Church, she used to say "I think my other church is when I am working in the yard and pulling weeds." Neighbors often speak of the ways that she enhanced the neighborhood with the beauty of her home and her yard. She was very house proud. She is survived by her son Edward (Ted) Harter IV (partner Sondra Pokea); brother Ben (Sandy) Nesbit; sister-in-law Brenda Nesbit; nephews Hugh Nesbit, Bryan Nesbit, Stacey (Danielle) Nesbit; nieces Margaret (Chase) Hicks, Tammla Nesbit Price; and numerous great and great great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her step family step son Louis Buckalew, Jr. (C. Ellen Mehl), and step daughter Carol Argiro (Eric Paton); and step grandchildren Richard (Rosie) Buckalew, Harlan Buckalew (fiancee Anna Irmiter), Sarah Buckalew, Joseph Argiro (partner Anna Siriano), and Margaret Argiro (Sanwal Deen); step niece Susan (Scott) McKinley She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lou Buckalew, Sr., and brother Roy Nesbit. The family wishes to thank the staff of Bickford of Upper Arlington for going above and beyond in caring for our loved one and enhancing the quality of her life. In the last months of her life ministers, friends, and family came from near and far to visit and support her. They shared pictures and stories and nurtured her in many ways. Others, unable to come, said prayers and sent messages of love and concern. All contributed to making her last days more meaningful. With her death came sadness and a hole that cannot be filled. On the other hand, we believe that when she closed her eyes for the last time, she knew she had a family that cared about her, that the neighbors appreciated and supported her, that she had good friends, and that she was not alone or forgotten. She knew people were by her side until angels took her by her hand. A gathering of friends and family will be held 4:00 - 6:00 PM on June 10th at the Rutherford Corbin Funeral Home, Worthington, Ohio. A memorial service will be held on June 11 at 11am with visitation an hour before the service at the King Avenue United Methodist Church, Columbus Ohio, with Reverend John Keeny officiating. There will be a reception immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Martha's memory to the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resource Center online or at 3222 N. High St, Columbus, Ohio 43202.

Martha H Buckalew

October 14, 1941 - May 15, 2024