Martha (Marty) Ann Whitehead

Martha (Marty) Ann Whitehead, born to Herbert M and Helen Thompson Whitehead on December 4, 1935, went to see her Lord on October 31, 2023.

She is survived by her sister, Shirley Eller, Niece, Julie Weisse, Great Niece Natalie Rose, Great Great Nieces Braylee Rose, and Morrigan LaGrone, Great Nephew Stephen LaGrone, Great Great Nephews Terry LaGrone and Jacob West and numerous friends, especially Jean Werner who loved and helped her for many years prior to her moving from Texas to Arkansas.

Marty graduated from Hazen High School, where she was active in the HHS Band, and was the first Drum Major.

Marty joined the Air Force in 1962. After her initial training at Lackland AFB, she was stationed at Shaw AFB in Colombia, South Carolina. She then trained to be a flight nurse and was sent to Rhein Main AFB. While there, she flew into Vietnam, escorting injured military members to various medical centers throughout the United States. As the war was coming to a close, she was sent to the Philippines, to welcome the POW’s home and help with their medical care. She was stationed at Chute AB in Illinois, Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, Little Rock AFB, and Wilford Hall medical center in San Antonio, Tx where she ran the Outpatient Clinic. One of the highlights of her career was that she was one of the first three nurses to be selected to be a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. While serving in the Air Force, she received 2 Masters degrees: one from Incarnate Word University and one from Webster University. She was extremely passionate about education, encouraging everyone she met to pursue higher education. She was active in the Democratic Party and was honored to be at Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. Some of the many organizations she supported were the Feminist Majority based in Los Angeles, Emily’s List based in Washington DC, and Planned Parenthood of South Central Texas.

She was proud to be from Hazen and extremely proud of her single Mother was worked hard to provide for her and her sister, and her Grandparents who helped raise her. She loved to collect books, clocks, and model trains because her grandfather worked for the railroad. Her proudest accomplishment was her relationship with Pat McGuire. They were together for 42 years before Pat’s death on October 1, 2017.

We want to thank Brookdale Assisted Living in Conway, Arkansas and the Greenbrier Nursing & Rehab Center for their loving care during Marty’s last year on earth.

Donations may be made, in lieu of flowers to: San Antonio Food Bank at: 5200 Historic, Old Hwy 90 W, San Antonio, TX 78227.

The Funeral will be at the Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen, Arkansas on November 13 at 2 p.m.