Martha Irwin

In Loving Memory of Martha Ellen Irwin February 17, 1934 - May 26, 2025 With great love and deep sorrow, we share the passing of Martha Ellen Irwin, who left this world peacefully in her sleep on May 26, 2025, at the age of 91. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend whose gentle spirit, unwavering strength, and boundless love touched everyone fortunate enough to know her. Born in Monroe, North Carolina, Martha was the tenth of eleven children raised on a sharecropping farm near Wingate. Her early years were marked by humility and hard work, values she carried with her throughout her life. Even as a child, she stood out for her reliability—graduating from Wingate High School with perfect attendance, a simple but powerful symbol of her steadfast character. At just 16, she met her true love, Paul Irwin, a young soldier stationed at Fort Bragg with the 82nd Airborne. They first laid eyes on each other over the Fourth of July weekend in 1950, and from that day forward, they were rarely apart in heart—even when miles separated them. Their love endured two years of weekend hitchhiking visits before they married on August 22, 1953, beginning a life journey full of devotion, adventure, and partnership that lasted more than 70 years. Martha was not only a dedicated wife and mother, but also a tireless civil servant. Across three decades, she worked for the Army Corps of Engineers, the Navajo Army Depot, the National Forest Service, and the Air Force Special Weapons Center at Kirtland AFB. She later supported over 11,000 students through Professional Military Education, ensuring their success with the same care and determination she gave her family. But Martha’s proudest role—and the one that brought her the greatest joy—was being a grandmother. After retirement, she poured her heart into caring for her grandchildren: taking them to and from school, helping with homework, and creating magical memories at Bible camp, on camping trips to Cimarron Canyon, and during long summer days at Elephant Butte Lake. Her love was quiet, steady, and fierce—her family was her whole world. Martha is preceded in death by her beloved husband Paul, her great-granddaughter Alysandra, and many dear siblings. She is survived by her sons Russel Irwin and Randy Irwin (wife Carrie); her grandchildren Jessica Dorado (husband Juan), Justin Irwin, Jason Irwin (wife Kayla), Carrina Mitre, and Katie Mitre; and her great-grandson Bennett Dorado. She leaves behind a legacy of warmth, kindness, humility, and grace. To those who knew her, Martha was a source of calm and comfort—a steady hand in uncertain times, a warm hug when it was most needed, and a reminder that love is shown in the quiet, consistent ways we show up for one another. She will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever with deep love and gratitude.