Martha Elizabeth Pyke

Martha Elizabeth (Wood) Pyke, 92, passed away on March 15, 2013. She resided the last 54 years of her life in La Crescenta, California. She is survived by her son Tom, daughter-in-law Kathy, and granddaughters Michelle and Jennifer. She was predeceased by her husband, Eugene, who died in 2005. Martha and Gene are interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale.

A third generation Californian, Martha was born on June 17, 1920, in San Francisco. She received her early education, through high school, in Santa Rosa. Part of this time she lived within a few doors of famed horticulturist Luther Burbank.

Upon graduation from the University of California at Berkeley (Cal) in 1943, Martha passed Federal Civil Service exams resulting in her position as a medical laboratory technologist in charge of blood banking and serology at the U.S. Army's Oakland Regional Hospital. She later served a year doing laboratory research work in Hawaii, followed by a return to UC for a year of advanced bacteriology and hematology. After moving to southern California, Martha became chief laboratory technologist at Behrens Memorial Hospital for the group that later became Pathologists Clinical Laboratories (PCL).

Martha and Eugene H. Pyke were married on July 4, 1954 at the Chapel of Roses in Pasadena. Gene was a building contractor, specializing in residential remodeling and additions. After initially living in Glendale, they moved to La Crescenta in late 1958.

Their only child, Thomas Eugene, was born in 1959. Martha's initial leave of absence from the lab extended on for over 10 years. During that time she was active in the PTA (serving in a number of offices and chairmanships, including a term as PTA President at Rosemont Junior High School) and in the Cub Scouts (Den Mother for two years). She was also involved with the American Association of University Women and other women's groups. When Tom was in junior high, Martha resumed her position as a laboratory technologist with PCL on a part-time basis. Tom graduated from Crescenta Valley High School, followed by UCLA and law school.

Martha and Gene enjoyed the company of many friends, especially the number of families who lived nearby on Cross Street. "The Birthday Girls" continued to meet for years, even after "the kids grew up" and "progressive dinners" were no longer in style.

In later years, Martha and Gene enjoyed visits with their granddaughters Michelle and Jennifer, who live in Cupertino (near San Jose) with Tom and his wife Kathy. Martha and Gene celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2004.

Martha was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend and she will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.

At Martha's request, her burial was private. The location of Gene & Martha's gravesite is Niche 5726, Columbarium of Certainty (wall crypt space), Dawn of Tomorrow (mortuary section) at Forest Lawn Glendale, 1712 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205.