Martha Mae (Shepherd) Wallen, 82, Warsaw, died June 8, 2022. She passed away peacefully in her home with her husband, Claude E. Wallen, by her side.

Martha was born on December 29, 1939, in Floyd County, Kentucky, to Alex and Audie Ellen (Reffitt) Shepherd. She attended school in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, until she married Claude on July 15, 1955. Martha and Claude were blessed with the birth of their first and only son, Larry E. Wallen, on May 26, 1956 After his birth, they moved to Warsaw in 1958 where Martha resided with Claude until his death.

During all their years together, Martha always stood by Claude’s side. Even when he spent several nights traveling for work, they talked on the phone every hour. Claude was everything to her and she was his for almost 67 years. Their marriage was respected by all who knew them.

Marthe was a faithful woman, who dedicated her life to the service of the Lord. She was a member, secretary and treasurer of Lighthouse Church for over forty years. She found great joy in singing and playing guitar whenever she had the chance. Most recently, she was a member of Harvest Community Church.

After her faith, the most important thing to her was her whole family. Some of his fondest memories shared with his grandchildren were spending every Friday night eating his home-cooked meals, playing T-ball in the yard, and Saturday morning cookies and gravy. For the past few years, she’s loved spending time with her two great-grandchildren, who she called “beautiful babies.” She also loved all flowers, gardening, cooking and baking. She was famous for her extravagant birthday cakes, delicious fudge and buckeye candies.

Martha is survived by her husband, Claude Wallen; his grandchildren, Laura (Chase) Hinton, David Wallen, Ross (Mary) Wallen and Mark Wallen; her great-grandchildren, Jude and Quinn Hinton, with another Hinton expected to arrive later this summer; his sister, Evelene (Joe) Serovy; and several nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins. She is predeceased by her son, Larry Wallen, her siblings, Margie Crum, Buddy Shepherd, Henry Shepherd, Bobbie Robinson, Joyce Ann Shepherd, Jeanetta Sue Shepherd and Sandra Kay Shepherd.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2022 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. Martha’s life will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2022 and celebrated by Pastor Glenn Hall. A funeral service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online here.