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In Memory Of
Martha W. Carithers
1927 2014

Martha W. Carithers

February 25, 1927 — May 29, 2014

Martha W. Carithers, 87, of Topeka, died on Thursday, May 29, 2014, in Topeka. She was born in Topeka, on February 25, 1927, the daughter of Robert L. and Ruth Kaster Webb.

Martha graduated from Topeka High School in 1944 and from Antioch College in 1949. With Antioch's cooperative program, she worked in human relations offices in Chicago and Boston. After college, she worked in human relations at then St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago.

In 1952, Martha married Robert W. Carithers, now deceased. In 1963, she moved with sons Warren R. and Matthew W. to Topeka. She worked part-time in social science research at Menninger. While at Menninger, she enrolled in graduate school at KU. She received an M. Phil. in 1978 and a Ph.D in 1982 in sociology from Kansas University. While a student, she resigned from Menninger and worked in social science research at KU. In 1983, she became a revenue analyst in the Kansas Department of Revenue, retiring in 1997. She published professional papers and edited books while at Menninger and KU. After retirement, she was a volunteer with the Red Carpet program and in the Topeka Room of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Joan W. Ellis, her brother Thomas R. Webb and a nephew, Robert Edward Ellis. She is survived by sons Warren R. (Shelly) in Rochester, NY and Matthew W. Carithers, Topeka, her sister-in-law Betty Ann Webb in Overland Park, KS, grandchildren Catherine Michelle and James Maxwell Carithers, a niece Leslie Kieffer and nephews John Ellis, Philip Webb, and Gary, Douglas and Steven Conwell and great-nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 SW Eighth, Topeka, KS 66603 or the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 SW 10th Street, Topeka, KS 66604.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2014, in the chapel at Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Topeka.

Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Martha W. Carithers, please visit our flower store.

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