Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: April 1997 Volume 35 Number 2, Page 77

In Memoriam: Martha Rowland Pugh

Betty Ripka

Page 77

The History Club lost a loyal supporter and long-time friend, Martha Rowland Pugh, on February 27, 1997. She served as recording secretary of the club for four years from 1992 to 1995. Martha was born in Philadelphia, but her family moved to Waterloo Road in Devon before she was two years old. At school age, she rode the bus daily to our local schools. She was also a faithful member of St. John's Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir.

Her teachers looked forward each spring to the large bouquet of flowers, usually peonies, she took to school for them almost every day. Her favorite subject was sewing which was taught to every girl in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade because, as her teacher maintained, it was "an important skill for women." Her mother always served afternoon tea to Martha's visiting friends, a gracious English custom which was an integral part of her heritage.

In ninth to twelfth grades she attended Tredyffrin-Easttown High School. Meeting students from Paoli, Malvern, Willistown, Charlestown, Berwyn and Strafford, she expanded her circle of friends and participated in usual school events. A big disappointment was NO SENIOR TRIP! World War II necessitated its cancelation.

Immediately after graduation in June of 1942, she accepted a job at Fidelity Trust Bank in Philadelphia. Within four months she was promoted to the Trust Department. She and her co-worker, Thomas L. Pugh Jr., were married on August 23, 1947. They lived in Philadelphia but, in 1966, moved to Willow Grove where there was space for flower and vegetable gardens.

She and Tom had hoped to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary this year, but it was not to be. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Marion, of Willow Grove; her son, Douglas, of Washington State; and her brother, Rev. Sidney Rowland, of New York. Martha will be missed by all of us.