McGrew Descendant
Martha Heermans Tittl
Dies in Michigan
Members of the McGrew Society recently learned that devoted friend and benefactor Martha Mae Heermans Tittl passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2012, in Richmond, MI.
Born January 3, 1920, Martha was the great-granddaughter of the Honorable James C. and Persis Hagans McGrew. Her father, Edward Heermans, was their grandson and spent countless hours of his childhood in his grandparents' home and later, as journalist and co-editor of the Preston County Journal, covered events in his hometown. Eventually, Edward left West Virginia and met and married Clara Vorce; their daughter Martha visited her grandmother Sarah Martha McGrew Heermans and the McGrew home once as a little girl, but she knew nothing about her great-grandfather's role in West Virginia's statehood until, by chance while attending a DAR convention, she was browsing a shelf of history books and glanced through a particular text's index. To her surprise, she found an entry for James C. McGrew. She followed that discovery with an inquiry to the WV Department of History and Culture and ultimately discovered the McGrew Society in Kingwood. She always said from that time forward that she had found and been adopted into her otherwise lost West Virginia family.
For the next 20 years, she and her husband, the late Lt. Col. Charles Tittl, were faithful supporters of the McGrew Society and its efforts to preserve her ancestral home, which was built in 1841, but has been restored and regularly welcomes the public to program there. They faithfully attended the annual September event, where they warmly greeted volunteers and guests with sincere words of appreciation for all that had been done since their previous visit.
In her professional life, Martha was a graduate of Wayne State University, as well as a trained ballet and tap dancer who went on to have her own studio. She was also a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts, a member of the Birmingham Musical, the AAUW, and was especially proud of her membership in the DAR and Daughters of 1812, which were each traced through her McGrew-Hagans heritage.
Martha and Charles shared 52 years of marriage before he passed away in December 2009.
Her funeral service was held March 30, with internment at the Great Lakes National Cemetery. She is survived by son Charles Tittl, his wife Laura, and grandchildren Amber and Charles, all of Richmond, Michigan.
All who met Martha were touched by her warmth and grace. Though she has passed from our presence, she will not be forgotten.
Martha Heermans Tittl
Dies in Michigan
Members of the McGrew Society recently learned that devoted friend and benefactor Martha Mae Heermans Tittl passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2012, in Richmond, MI.
Born January 3, 1920, Martha was the great-granddaughter of the Honorable James C. and Persis Hagans McGrew. Her father, Edward Heermans, was their grandson and spent countless hours of his childhood in his grandparents' home and later, as journalist and co-editor of the Preston County Journal, covered events in his hometown. Eventually, Edward left West Virginia and met and married Clara Vorce; their daughter Martha visited her grandmother Sarah Martha McGrew Heermans and the McGrew home once as a little girl, but she knew nothing about her great-grandfather's role in West Virginia's statehood until, by chance while attending a DAR convention, she was browsing a shelf of history books and glanced through a particular text's index. To her surprise, she found an entry for James C. McGrew. She followed that discovery with an inquiry to the WV Department of History and Culture and ultimately discovered the McGrew Society in Kingwood. She always said from that time forward that she had found and been adopted into her otherwise lost West Virginia family.
For the next 20 years, she and her husband, the late Lt. Col. Charles Tittl, were faithful supporters of the McGrew Society and its efforts to preserve her ancestral home, which was built in 1841, but has been restored and regularly welcomes the public to program there. They faithfully attended the annual September event, where they warmly greeted volunteers and guests with sincere words of appreciation for all that had been done since their previous visit.
In her professional life, Martha was a graduate of Wayne State University, as well as a trained ballet and tap dancer who went on to have her own studio. She was also a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts, a member of the Birmingham Musical, the AAUW, and was especially proud of her membership in the DAR and Daughters of 1812, which were each traced through her McGrew-Hagans heritage.
Martha and Charles shared 52 years of marriage before he passed away in December 2009.
Her funeral service was held March 30, with internment at the Great Lakes National Cemetery. She is survived by son Charles Tittl, his wife Laura, and grandchildren Amber and Charles, all of Richmond, Michigan.
All who met Martha were touched by her warmth and grace. Though she has passed from our presence, she will not be forgotten.