Martha Clark Mapes

Martha Jane Clark Mapes, of Ithaca, New York, died on September 29, 2026, at the age of 100. She was born in Lakewood, Ohio to Caspar Charles Clark, a junior high school principal, and Martha Bodenheimer Clark, a former teacher, on April 11, 1926. She had an older sister, Carol, and a younger brother to whom she was very close, Christopher. On June 25, 1948, she married Barth Elliot Mapes; the two were still attending Cornell, she to get her M.S. in Nutrition and he to get his B.S. in Animal Science. They had two children: Kathryn and Barth.

Martha was predeceased by her husband, Barth, her sister Carol Brown (Massey), and her brother, Christopher Clark. She is survived by her children, Kathryn and Barth, and her daughter-in-law, Rhonda. She is also survived by her grandchildren, of whom she was very proud: Gwynne Mapes (Sean Claussen), Rebecca Mapes (partner, Logan Fair), Anna Carter (Coleman), and Meghan Mapes. The girls grew up across the street from their grandparents’ farm and shared many happy memories together, including making pies, one of Martha’s chief talents, and picking up pinecones for their grandfather, at a penny apiece. Martha lived long enough to welcome four great-grandchildren: fraternal twins, Soekie and Fern, who were born to Gwynne and her husband, Sean, and Jude and Florence, who were born to Anna and her husband, Coleman.

She is also survived by her nephews and nieces: John Mapes (Anne Li), Jan Mapes, Karen Rhodes (Steve), Carol Hullett (Tony), Corinne Lane Fields (Bob), John Lane (Kelly), Lauren Clark (partner, Jaime Emmanuelli), and Gillian Lehman (Matt).

Martha often said that she had had a wonderful life and was so grateful for the people in it. She felt lucky indeed to have been so fortunate.

She was a child before helicopter parenting and loved riding her bike from Lakewood to Berea, a distance of 9 miles. On her way she rode through Rocky River, where she and Chris later went to the amusement park and experienced the thrill of the roller coaster. She was very popular with boys–several of them went so far as to form a Martha Club. Her only sorrow was the death of her German Shepherd, Yippee, which took place after her parents gave him to a family who lived on a busy street.

Martha and Barth were very much in love and theirs was a great romance. Barth loved to buy Martha flowers, and when he started wearing glasses, she would sometimes stop eating in the middle of dinner, run to his end of the table, take his glasses off, and kiss him. They were both middle children who were good students and very involved in high school activities, and they continued to be involved in volunteering at Cornell and as Ithaca residents. They participated in CRW while at Cornell, and continued their commitment to Christianity at two mainline churches, St. Paul’s Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church, the church Martha had been attending for many years at her death. Both of them loved reading, dancing, and spending time outdoors, especially at the family cottage in Ontario. Their lives were enriched by their close ties to the Brumsted and Zimmerman families, the families respectively of her big sister and little sister in Delta Gamma.

Martha became a Senior Extension Associate and a member of the faculty in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell after taking time off to raise her children and volunteer in positions such as PTA Council President. She was a typical Extension person because she loved being around people and was a natural performer. A shout out to all the DNS and Extension personnel. Thank you as well to all her editors. She spent much of her time writing articles and designing programs and appreciated their input.

Last but not least, we want to thank all of the nurses and aides who tirelessly took care of her at Kendal. She enjoyed spending time with you and getting to know about your families. A thank you also to Sherry Smart and Tracy Brewster of Kendal for their help with different aspects of Martha’s life.

Calling hours will be held at the Lansing Funeral Home on October 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The memorial service will be held in the Kendal Auditorium on October 17, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Donations may be made to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, 388 Upper Oakwood Avenue Elmira, NY 14903.