Martha Hilley Crosby, of Escalon CA and formerly from Signal Mountain, TN, died on March 7, 2016, just one week shy of her 90th birthday in Modesto, CA. She was the daughter of the late Carl Hilley and Kathryn Trippe Hilley of Chattanooga, TN. Martha was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Lee Crosby, Sr., her son John Adam Crosby, and her step-son Ralph Lee Crosby, Jr. A longtime member of St. Timothy’s church on Signal Mountain, she was a member of the Altar Guild and served many years on the multi-denominational Signal Mountain Welfare Council helping families in need. Martha enjoyed her role as a homemaker and mother. She was a member of the local Garden Club, League of Women’s Voters and the Hamilton County Republican Women’s Club; often taking her children to political events to give the awareness of the process of democracy. She also enjoyed playing bridge with her friends, was part of an avid hiking group and enjoyed hosting fun birthday and holiday parties for her children. Martha also loved to read. Through the Episcopal Church she completed a four year theology course for lay members and studied many of the modern philosophers. Conversations with her were always interesting.
In 1991, she moved to California to be near both her sons and to care for her son, Adam, who died in 1992. She later moved to Riverbank to stay in California to be near her grandchildren to watch them grow into adulthood. In 2004, she moved to Escalon and became a member of the Escalon Presbyterian Church. She developed close ties to the Escalon community and found deep and lasting friends in her adopted hometown and her church. She loved being an active member of her church.
Martha is survived by a son James H. Crosby and daughter-in-law, Lizbeth M. Oettel, her grandchildren, Benjamin G. Crosby and Pamela M. Crosby, all of Castro Valley, CA; a daughter, Martina L. Crosby of Chattanooga, TN, step-son, Robert W. Crosby and wife Margaret, of Indianapolis, IN. She also was proud to be a step-grandmother to Ralph, Carol, Lisa, David, and Chris Crosby.
A memorial service will be help on March 20 at 2 p.m. at Escalon Presbyterian Church.

The Escalon (Calif.) Times
March 16, 2016