Obituary: Marta Jo Kern

July 11, 1937 – February 15, 2025

Marta Jo Kern, 87, of Bedford, died the morning of Saturday, February 15, 2025, surrounded by her loving family at Cedar Creek in Bedford.

Born July 11, 1937, in Bedford, IN, she was the daughter of Audrey (Lackey) Holmes and Lee Holmes. She graduated from Williams High School in 1955, where she was proudly a cheerleader, which started her love of sports and athletics. She was very involved with 4-H as a junior leader. She married Olin Kern on June 15, 1955, and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before he died in 2015. They lovingly raised two daughters while juggling the work she loved. She was employed at Fayetteville High School as secretary to the principal, and later, I served as the director of volunteer services at Bedford Medical Center for several years.

She finished her career as the bookstore manager and bookkeeper at Bedford North Lawrence High School, where she retired in 2007. She loved meeting all the students, hearing about their adventures, and watching them progress to graduation.

She kept an immaculate home where her organizational skills magically kept the household running like a well-oiled machine. Marta enjoyed quilting, sewing, and spending time with her grandchildren. She looked forward to watching, cheering, and supporting her daughter Jayma and grandchildren in their athletic endeavors from kindergarten through college. Whether it was basketball, hockey, soccer, volleyball, or softball games, she looked forward to every event.

Survivors include her daughters, Dr. Julie Waldo (Dr. Brian) of Bedford and Jayma Ambrose (Ken) of Aptos, CA. Two grandchildren: Sarah Waldo (Professor Emanuel Garcia Munoz) of West Palm Beach, FL and Dr. Benjamin (Rachel) Waldo of Crofton, MD and their sons David and Griffin.

Two loving sisters, Bonnie (Mick) Bertram of Fort Branch, IN, and Connie Will of Bedford, as well as several nieces and nephews, also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Olin Kern, and her brother-in-law, Larry Will.

Visitation will be from Noon until 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 21st, at Day and Carter Mortuary. A private family funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor Charlie Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the Old Union Church Cemetery in Fayetteville.

Family and friends may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.