Martha Boles

DIXON – Martha Christina Boles, age 82, of Dixon, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on April 6th 2019 surrounded by her family. She was born to the late Rollo and Grace Trower on May 16, 1936, in Winchester, Kansas.

Martha was raised in Atchison, Kansas, where she attended Atchison High School before completing training to become a CNA. She met her husband, Billy Boles, at a restaurant in Leavenworth, Kansas. They only knew each other for 3 weeks before they got married on December 5th, 1953. Their friends told them they wouldn’t last more than 6 months, but they proved everyone wrong and spent 64 years together. She was a devoted mother and grandmother to seven children, 20 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends were Martha’s passion and delight. She enjoyed spending summers camping at Yogi Bear Campground and Woodhaven Lakes where she made many friends who became family. Martha had a green thumb and gardening was one of her favorite pastimes. She also loved Disney World and road tripping back to her home state to visit her family.

She will be sorely missed and survived by her husband, Billy Boles; her children: Tammie (Boles) Dotson, Michael Boles (Becky), Heide Boles, Michelle (Boles) Phelan, Billie (Boles) Mastrodonato, Jamie Boles (Rachel), and Ashley Stroh (Justin); 20 Grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Linda Pennington. She also leaves behind numerous loving relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rollo and Grace Trower; five brothers, John, Clifford, Earl, Don, and Mike Trower; seven sisters, Ruby Byers, Gladys Bruns, Margaret McHaly, Sharon Martin, Freida DeBay, and Nellie Moore; and her son-in-law, Michael Mastrodonato.

A memorial gathering will be from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, April 11, 2019, New Hope Baptist Church, 25059 Como Road, Sterling, followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service at the church. Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial of cremains will be at a later date.

Arrangements are being completed by Preston-Schilling Funeral Home in Dixon.

Condolences may be sent to prestonschilling.com.