Martha Van Meter

Martha Dotte Covey Van Meter returned to her heavenly home on November 2, 2018 after a valiant battle with a long illness. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her in her struggle and ultimately gave her peace.

Martha was born to the late Ray Covey Sr and Dorothy Dotte Covey, a prominent dairy farmer and homemaker, in Snowville, VA on February 21, 1929. She was a fervent Christian and member of the Christian community which would be her lifelong support from an early age. She loved nature and birds and was active in her local and state 4H organizations winning many awards. She was active in her local church (First Baptist Church, Pulaski, VA) where she served on church committees and taught women’s groups as a Sunday School teacher. She graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Education and later from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a Master’s degree in Education and accepted a position as a teacher where she taught 5th grade and later High School Senior English Literature at Pulaski High School for many years.

She married her best friend, Charles Van Meter Sr, on July 25, 1950, whom she met while she was in college and who was a devoted husband to her. She was blessed with a loving family and was a devoted homemaker and raised her one son Charles Van Meter Jr MD in the Christian faith teaching him to read and write and helping him in his various school activities, sports activities, and Boy Scouts. She enjoyed going on long family trips to see and enjoy the natural beauty of the southern states and she was fond of Myrtle Beach, SC where she would go each year on the last week of July for her honeymoon, July 25th, with her husband and son.

Martha was an educator at heart and was kind and soft spoken and loved keeping up to date with current events. She always had time to answer any question and help solve a problem, no matter how small. She is dearly missed by her loved ones, who celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her creator.

Martha is survived by her brother, Joe Covey, her son, Charles Van Meter Jr, MD, her daughter in law, Paula Van Meter, her grandson, Aden Van Meter  and is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Van Meter Sr, her parents, Ray Covey Sr and Dotte Covey, her sister, Grace Robertson, her brothers, Ellis Covey, Ray Covey Jr.

Martha will be buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pulaski, VA on November 8, 2018 at 2:00pm with a graveside service officiated by Reverend Henry Fiske from First Baptist Church, Pulaski, VA.  The family gratefully declines flowers and donations, but prayers, condolences, and memories are gladly accepted. Please visit www.mcloughlinmason.com.