Martha Durant Rife

Martha A. Durant Rife 89 of Lancaster, Ohio passed away Friday, September 2, 2016 at LanFair Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on January 9, 1927 to the late Buhei and Ito Abiko, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. She was a graduate of Hokkaido Pref. Girls’High School and received a Bachelor degree (KUNDO), from Hokkaido Teacher’s College, then she taught 4th grade at Obira Elementary School, Hokkaido, Japan.

Martha also worked for Anchor Hocking Glass Corp. and Helen’s Flowers teaching them Japanese flower design and in turn they taught her American flower design.

She is survived by her brother, Ryoichi Abiko and his wife and children of Toyko and sister, Michiko Aita and her children in Sapporo, Japan. She was preceded by her husbands, Lt. Colonel, Robert J. Durant and Samuel O. Rife.

Caring Cremation® has taken place by the FRANK E. SMITH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 405 N. COLUMBUS ST., LANCASTER, OH 43130. Burial will be in Tarlton Cemetery.

To send an online condolence, and , please visit www.funeralhome.com.